De Blasio aide fired for alleged sexual harassment still paid benefits

The former top aide to Mayor de Blasio sacked for allegedly sex𒁏ually harassing two staffers was allowed to remain on the city payroll for five weeks afꦅter being fired — and then coll🤪ected nearly $6,500 for leftover vacation time.

Officials said ✱Kevin O’Brien was sacked on Feb. 15, but kept getting paychecks through March 23 so he could use up his accrued leave.

Documents obtained from the Comptrol♒ler’s Office under the Freedom of Information Law show that O’Brien score🔜d $6,488.36 for the time he was still owed after the five weeks.

City Hall spokesman Eric Phillips defended the payouts, saying O’Brien received the check because he had nine days of time le🧔ft after burning “almost 30 days of accr🍌ued vacation.”

The payment, he said, is required under city regulꦡations that date back to 1988.

“You get paid out for PTO [paid time off] whether you’re fired, resign, or leave in good standing,” said Phi🔴llips, pointing a personnel order issued three decades ago. “It’s accrued.”

The Comptroller’s Office confirmed City Hall’s interpret🐽ation of the rules.

The documents raise new questions about O’Brien’s hiring and sಌubsequent termination after reaching the highest levels of City Hall.

City lawyers determined that O’Brien sexually harassed two꧋ staffers in a report se𒆙nt to de Blasio’s current chief of staff Emma Wolfe on Feb. 13, 2018.

Two days later, O’Brien was quietly pushed out🧔. He wouldn’t file his reꦦsignation paperwork until March 23.

However, the New York Times reported Monday that O’Brien was booted from a top Democratic group in Washington D.C. in December 2015 following 🍎an investigation inꦐto another allegation of sexual harassment.

Questions remain about what City Hall knew ab🤪out his pattern of misbehavior and how he got💟 through a Department of Investigation background check.

DOI requi🅰res applicants to disclose their previous employers, name their supervisor and provide a “reason for leaving” the job. The form must be signed and sworn🀅 before a notary.

“DOI checked with the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) and the state of Mon♔tana, previous employers of Mr. O’Brien. The DGA and the state of Montana both affirmatively stated that there was no adverse information on this individual,” said DOI spokeswoman Diane Struzzi, who declined to comment further ဣon the matter.

His Beltway employer, the Democratic Governors Association,🧸 did not respond ౠto a phone message or email seeking comment.