NYC employee says she was fired after reporting alleged relationship between top Mamdani appointee, subordinate
The Department of Investigation has started to probe the situation involving Harun Goodwin, Mamdani’s probation commissioner.
CHRIS 04/10/20261/2
NEW YORK — A New York City Department of Probation employeeclaims she was fired in retaliation for blowing the whistle on her commissioner’s romantic relationship with a top subordinate— and the city’s corruption watchdog is now investigating the matter.
The former employee,Ebony Huntley, filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Courton Thursday laying out the accusations against Department of Probation Commissioner Sharun Goodwin, who was appointed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani in late January.
In an interview with POLITICO,Huntley, who served as the Probation Department’s chief investigator, said the New York City Department of Investigation contacted her after she filed the suit to inform her the watchdog agency is probing her allegations. A DOI spokesperson confirmed Friday that the department “is aware of this matter,” but declined further comment.
The lawsuit — and the related DOI inquiry — marks the first potential scandal involving a top official in Mamdani’s administration. The mayor, who marked his 100th day in office Friday, campaigned last year on a promise tousher in a “new era” of good governmentafter former Mayor Eric Adams oversaw an administration besieged by corruption and misconduct accusations, including at the Department of Probation.
When asked if he still has confidence in Goodwin in light of the allegations, Mamdani said at a Friday press conference that he takes “any allegation 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,” he said.
Echoing the mayor,Department of Probation spokesperson Regina Graham said the agency takes allegations of wrongdoing “seriously” and is “committed to fostering a professional, respectful and accountable workplace for all employees.”
“The allegations in this lawsuit will be duly addressed as the legal process runs its course,” Graham said.
Neither Graham nor spokespeople for Mamdaniwould immediately say if Goodwin or McKenzie have had their duties modified in any way in light of the lawsuit. Graham did say Goodwin and McKenzie “will have no role or oversight to any potential investigation to avoid any conflict and to preserve independence.”
According to her lawsuit,Huntley, in her capacity as the department’s chief investigator, received an anonymous staff complaint in late Marchalleging that Goodwin had engaged in a “prior intimate relationship” with the agency’s general counsel, Wayne McKenzie, who was hired for his role after Goodwin became commissioner.
The staff complaint, a copy of which was attached to Huntley’s lawsuit,said employees believe Goodwin’s alleged romantic ties to McKenzie “may present a conflict of interest and impact impartial decision-making” at the department. The complaint contains allegations against other employees, too, includingZenia Melendez, the agency’s human resources director, who’s accused ofhaving a history of “verbal and physical violence” against staff.
“Collectively,these concerns have created a workplace environment where employees feel uneasy, discouraged from speaking openly, and uncertain about their job security,” the complaint says.“Many employees simply want to perform their dutiesin 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.”
Huntley transmitted the staff complaint to the Department of Investigation on March 26, “consistent with her obligations as chief investigator,” according to the suit. After emailing it to DOI, she discussed the issue with Brandon Smith, an attorney at the Probation Department who told her he would inform McKenzie, the suit states. Huntley says she told Smith he shouldn’t do that, given McKenzie was named in the complaint, but Smith allegedly replied: “This is not like the old days where you don’t share information.”
The next day, Huntley alleges she was summoned to a meeting organized by McKenzie. In that meeting, McKenzie specifically referenced the anonymous DOI complaint and the fact that he was named in it, according to court papers. He then allegedly told Huntley she was fired.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/10/nyc-government-employee-fired-after-blowing-whistle-on-mamdani-administration-officials-romantic-relationship-lawsuit-alleges-00866619?