A former Columbia University gynecologist is facing six federal charges regarding he committed sexual assault on his patients for nearly two decades.

Robert A. Hadden was an obstetrician and gynecologist who allegedly sexually abused women between the years of 1993 and 2012.

Among the women who have spoken out against Hadden, now 62, is Evelyn Yang, wife of former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang. She said he sexually assaulted her when she was seven months pregnant in 2012. She told CNN in January that she “froze” and stared at a spot on the wall so she would not look at his face as she waited for the attack to end.

Hadden has been charged with six counts of enticing women to engage in illegal sex acts, according to an announcement made at a news conference conducted  Sept. 9 by acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss and FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney, Jr.

According to the Washington Post, Strauss said Hadden purportedly preyed upon women who often made their visit to his office their first trip to a gynecologist. Because they didn’t know what to expect, Hadden allegedly took advantage of the women’s naivete and turned their exams into a sexually inappropriate gratification for himself.

“Many of Hadden’s victims did not know what to expect during an OB/GYN examination and were less likely to challenge Hadden when he engaged in sexually abusive behavior,” Strauss said at the news conference. “As a result, some of his victims immediately identified Hadden’s conduct as abusive but many didn’t know that his examinations were inappropriate, and so returned to see him for years.”

Hadden was released on a $1 million bond and provided with pre-trial restrictions on where he can go when he leaves his home. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger agreed to release Hadden in part because the former doctor is a caregiver for a mentally disabled son and other sick members of the family.

Columbia University Gynecologist Reached Plea Deal in 2016

Back in 2016, Hadden agreed to a plea deal with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, which had charged him with nine counts of sexual abuse. At the time, he pleaded guilty to criminal sexual act in the third degree and forcible touching, but did not face prison time. He lost his medical license and is now registered as a Level 1 sex offender.

On Sept. 11, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced a criminal investigation into Columbia University has begun over how the school dealt with allegations of Hadden’s sexual abuse, a knowledgeable source reported to CBS.

CNN reported in February that a former patient wrote a letter to Columbia University in 1994 that detailed allegations that she was sexually assaulted by Hadden. The woman said the director of the OB/GYN department wrote a letter back to her with a promise her accusations would be investigated and that the school would follow up later. She said she never heard another word from the university official.

CNN gained access to Dian Saderup Monson’s letter, which said in part, “I am 37 years old and have had numerous gynecological exams in the past. I have never, until being examined by Dr. Hadden, been disturbed by the way in which a breast or pelvic exam was conducted.”

The question remains that if Columbia University knew of Hadden’s deviant behavior in 1994, why did they allow him to examine patients for another 18 years?

Hadden now faces a maximum prison sentences of 20 years for each of the six new charges filed.

A least 100 women have brought forth allegations that they also were victims of sexual assault committed by the Columbia University gynecologist during their patient visits to his office.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.