J. David Cox, Sr. is now the former national president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). The union issued a statement today announcing his resignation.
AFGE wrote:
Today, Feb. 28, J. David Cox Sr. resigned as national president of the American Federation of Government Employees effective at the close of business. In accepting his resignation, AFGE concluded the processing of the November 2019 internal charges, and former President Cox has forfeited his right to hold or run for any AFGE-elected office in perpetuity. This resignation does not affect the investigation being conducted by Working IDEAL, nor does it alter AFGE’s commitment to process the February 2020 or any future charges filed against Cox pursuant to the AFGE Constitution.
Per the AFGE Constitution, National Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Everett B. Kelley will assume the office of AFGE National President.
Cox was named in a report in which allegations were made that individuals either witnessed or experienced instances of sexual harassment by Cox. He had been on a leave of absence from his position since October 27.
AFGE issued a statement shortly after the news broke in which the union said it had taken “immediate action” to launch an investigation into the matter and that the allegations, if true, were “abhorrent to all of us and contrary to AFGE’s mission and values.”
AFGE said little in its statement about the ongoing investigation, only that it does not affect the investigation that is being conducted.
AFGE also welcomed Kelley as the new national president and said that the union would continue working in its mission.
