Former Staffer Accuses Chad Lupinacci Of Sexual Assault

A former staffer of Town of Huntington supervisor Chad Lupinacci filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against his former employer on accusations of sexual harassment and assault, which Lupinacci claims are false and “completely without merit.”

Brian Finnegan served as a staffer for Lupinacci while the politician was assemblyman for the 10th District of New York. Finnegan started out as a legislative aid in 2014 and ultimately became his chief of staff until he resigned following incidents that took place in Albany during December 2017.

Finnegan and Lupinacci would travel together to Albany about once per month since 2014, staying together in a house, hotel, or Lupinacci’s studio apartment adjacent to City Hall, according to the lawsuit.

On Dec. 5, 2017, the lawsuit says Finnegan, who fell asleep while intoxicated, woke up between the hours of 2 and 5 a.m. to find Lupinacci standing over him and touching the zipper of his pants. Finnegan woke up again to find Lupinacci with his hands down his own boxer shorts, the lawsuit alleges.

Lupinacci is also accused of making non-consensual contact with Finnegan’s genitals during the early morning hours of Dec. 13, 2017. At 2:30 a.m., Finnegan says he woke up to see Lupinacci at the side of his bed. Finegan says his boxers and shorts were “out of place” and his genitalia was exposed above the waistline of the shorts. He believes Lupinacci took his genitals out of his boxer shorts and made contact with them.

Finnegan quit his job that morning.

The lawsuit claims that over the course of Finnegan's employment, Lupinacci:

• Would ask Finnegan personal questions that made him feel uncomfortable.
• Pressured Finnegan to drink alcohol.
• Poured a glass of vodka into his eyes while he was asleep while at a Young Republicans conference in Annapolis, Maryland in August 2017.
• Created a hostile workplace and caused Finnegan to feel discomfort, pain, stress, embarrassment and depression.
• Impacted Finnegan’s career and financial status as a result of his inappropriate and “implicitly sexual” actions.

Lupinacci’s attorney Brian Griffin says Finnegan’s claims are an “attempt at an unjust and unwarranted financial payday.”

“These allegations occurred approximately one year ago yet no complaint was made to the NYS Assembly and a lawsuit was never filed,” Griffin said in a statement on behalf of Lupinacci. “Instead we are left with an attempt to smear the good name and reputation of a tireless public servant.”

Lupinacci, a Republican, served as a member of the New York State Assembly for five years before being sworn-in as town supervisor on Jan. 1, 2018.

Finnegan, a Northport resident, now serves as the chief of staff at Todd Shapiro Associates in Manhattan. He seeks compensation for back pay and benefits, attorney fees, compensatory and punitive damages, consequential/liquidated damages and more.

Griffin said Lupinacci will continue to defend himself against these allegations while he serves the Town of Huntington.

Image via Town of Huntington