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UC Berkeley Research Administrator Accused Of Wanting To 'Molest' Assistant Resigns Amid Sexual Assault Investigation

BERKELEY (KCBS)— One of UC Berkeley's top research administrators has resigned in protest over a sexual assault investigation.

KCBS' and Chronicle Insider Phil Matier reported in his Matier and Ross column that Vice Chancellor Graham Fleming is accused of inappropriately touching his top assistant, kissing her neck and telling her he wanted to "molest" her.

Fleming claims the UC investigation has mischaracterized the facts of the matter and has been inconsistent.

His resignation was announced last week.

Fleming admits in a letter to UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks that he used "poor judgement", but that his actions were not sexual or romantic.

The allegations, detailed in the complaint filed with UC President Janet Napolitano by the former assistant, go back to 2009.

The assistant herself was fired from the University in 2012 following an affair with a younger male subordinate whose salary doubled during the couple's 15-month-long relationship.

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