Bank of America Corp. fired at least two from its prime brokerage unit after they allegedly interfered in the bank's probe of an executive's behavior, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The executive in question was Managing Director Omeed Malik, who had been accused of and later fired for making unwanted sexual advances. "People familiar with the matter" told the WSJ the employees were removed as the company broadened its review of possible sexual misconduct in the business.
Sources for Bloomberg News identified those terminated as staffers Joe Voboril and Valerie Ludorf. They had worked under Malik and were said to have disclosed insufficient information related to his case.
Malik's lawyer, on the other hand, told Bloomberg the bank had suppressed evidence that would have been helpful to his client. He also accused BofA of having a "pattern of discrimination in which white males at the bank have been protected and rewarded." Malik is of Middle Eastern descent. Voboril's lawyer, in turn, said Voboril may have been fired in an "attempt to discredit anyone whose truthful answers didn't fit into the bank's narrative about [Malik]."
