PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The Providence Housing Authority board has placed the agency's longtime executive director on unpaid leave while federal authorities investigate alleged wrongdoing at the authority.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday night to place Executive Director Stephen O'Rourke on administrative leave while the investigation is pending.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has been looking into a whistleblower complaint by O'Rourke's executive assistant, Elizabeth Herosy. She claims there's fraud at the Housing Authority involving federal funds and no-bid contracts, and she accuses O'Rourke of sexual harassment.

O'Rourke denies the allegations but says he understands the board's decision to put him on leave because of the investigation.

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