London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Alphabet's board has launched a probe into the company's handling of sexual misconduct charges, including those made against its top attorney

Alphabet's board has launched a probe into the company's handling of sexual misconduct charges, including those made against its top attorney

The board of Google's parent company, Alphabet, is looking into the company's handling of sexual-misconduct allegations, according to CNBC. It has formed a special committee to look into the matter and has hired an outside law firm to help with the investigation, according to the report.
Among other things, the investigation will look into the conduct of David Drummond, Alphabet's chief legal officer, who had an affair and a child with a subordinate and is accused of having other affairs with women in his department.

The investigation follows a shareholder lawsuit that accuses the company of covering up sexual misconduct and a worldwide walkout by company employees over its handling of sexual-harassment claims.

The board of directors at Alphabet, Google's parent company, has launched an investigation into the company's handling of sexual-misconduct allegations, including those made against its chief legal officer, David Drummond, CNBC reported on Wednesday.

The board has created a special committee to oversee the inquiry, according to the report. It has also hired an outside law firm to help with the investigation, CNBC reported, citing "materials" it had viewed.

In a statement, a Google representative confirmed the board inquiry, saying it had previously been disclosed in court filings.

"In early 2019, Alphabet's board of directors formed a special litigation committee to consider claims made by shareholders in various lawsuits relating to past workplace conduct," the representative said.

The representative declined to say whether the inquiry would scrutinize Drummond.

But according to CNBC, the investigation will indeed look at the actions of Drummond, who heads up Alphabet's legal department. In August, Jennifer Blakely, who formerly worked for Drummond as a part of Google's legal team, said she'd had an affair and a child with him while she reported to him. She said that after her son was born she was forced to leave her position in the legal department and was transferred to the sales department to a position for which she felt ill-suited.

Blakely accused Drummond of abandoning her and having multiple other affairs, including with women who had worked with him at Google.

In a subsequent statement, Drummond acknowledged the relationship with Blakely and said he was "far from perfect," but he denied having "started a relationship" with anyone else at Google or Alphabet.

Alphabet has been dogged by criticism about its handling of sexual-misconduct allegations for much of the past year. An article in The New York Times last fall detailed the company's responses to sexual-harassment allegations made against key executives, who in some cases were removed but paid generous severance packages. The report led to a massive walkout by Google employees around the world to protest the company's handling of such matters. It also led to a shareholder suit that accused the board of covering up sexual misconduct.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×