What Happened to Robert A. Hadden?

Robert A. Hadden, a former obstetrician-gynecologist, engaged in a prolific pattern of sexual abuse against his patients from the late 1980s until 2012, primarily while working at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. His crimes involved performing unnecessary procedures and exams for his own sexual gratification, often under the guise of medical treatment, and included forcible touching, groping, and other invasive acts, affecting hundreds of women, including pregnant individuals and minors.

The initial legal response to Hadden's abuse was widely criticized as lenient. After accusations surfaced in 2012, he was indicted on state charges in 2014. In 2016, Hadden entered a controversial plea deal with the Manhattan District Attorney's office, pleading guilty to third-degree sexual assault and forcible touching. This deal resulted in him losing his medical license and registering as a sex offender, but notably, he avoided any prison time, a decision that drew significant public outcry and comparisons to other high-profile cases of unpunished sexual misconduct.

A key turning point came in January 2020 when Evelyn Yang, wife of former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, publicly revealed she was a victim of Hadden's abuse. Her testimony brought national attention to the case and catalyzed more victims to come forward, leading to new federal charges. In September 2020, Hadden was arrested and indicted on federal sex trafficking charges for enticing and inducing victims to travel across state lines for unlawful sexual activities.

The federal trial concluded in January 2023 with Hadden's conviction on all four federal charges. In July 2023, he was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, the maximum possible sentence, along with a $10,000 fine and lifetime supervised release. Judge Richard M. Berman described Hadden's conduct as "horrendous, beyond extraordinary, depraved sexual assault." Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital have faced extensive civil litigation, agreeing to multiple settlements totaling over $1 billion for more than 1,000 survivors, including a $750 million settlement in May 2025 and a $100 million Survivors' Settlement Fund launched in February 2024, with the deadline extended to June 15, 2026.

As of March 2026, the fallout continues. The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, has launched an investigation into Columbia University's handling of the allegations against Hadden, specifically examining the university's conduct in the weeks following his 2012 arrest when he continued to see patients. Concurrently, on March 10, 2026, Columbia University released its own independent external investigation report detailing the "institutional failures" that allowed Hadden's abuse to persist, identifying issues such as ineffective chaperoning, obstacles to reporting, and a failure to respond to received reports. Following the report's release, two top administrators involved in the decision to allow Hadden to continue seeing patients in 2012 are set to exit their positions.