Doctor who allegedly assaulted Evelyn Yang arrested on federal charges

A former Manhattan doctor who was accused by Evelyn Yang, wife of former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, of sexual assault was arrested Wednesday on federal charges. 

The Associated Press reported that Robert A. Hadden, a former gynecologist, was arrested Wednesday and is facing six counts of inducing others to travel for the purpose of illegal sexual activity.

An indictment obtained by the AP accused the former doctor of coercing women into sexual acts “under the guise of conducting purported gynecological and obstetric examinations” at multiple locations including hospitals in New York.

He is accused by more than two dozen women of groping them inappropriately or penetrating them vaginally during medical examinations.

“He used the cover of conducting medical examinations to engage in sexual abuse that he passed off as normal and medically necessary,” said acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss, according to the wire service.

“His conduct was neither normal nor medically necessary.”

Yang previously revealed her experience with Hadden in January, accusing him at the time of scheduling frequent unnecessary examinations and targeting young, pregnant women who were vulnerable due to their lack of experience.

“The examinations became longer, more frequent and I learned that they were unnecessary,” Yang told CNN in January. “Most women don’t know what you’re supposed to get when you’re pregnant. I didn’t know that I wasn’t supposed to get an exam every time you see the doctor.”

An attorney who filed a suit against Hadden after Yang’s interview said in subsequent weeks that he received complaints from nearly 40 women about Hadden’s alleged actions.

The former physician was forced to register as a sex offender and lost his license in 2016 after reaching a plea deal with the office of Manhattan Attorney General Cy Vance (D).

Vance has since apologized to survivors of sexual assault over the deal, and it was revealed in February that his office was investigating the new allegations.

“While we stand by our legal analysis and resulting disposition of this difficult case, we regret that this resolution has caused survivors pain,” Vance said earlier this year.