Mamdani Administration Rocked By Salacious New Scandal

A top employee in New York City’s probation department says she was fired after blowing the whistle on an alleged romantic relationship between her boss and a senior subordinate, and now the city’s corruption watchdog is investigating.

Ebony Huntley, the former chief investigator for the New York City Department of Probation, filed a wrongful termination lawsuit Thursday in Manhattan Supreme Court, accusing department leadership of retaliating against her after she reported concerns involving Commissioner Sharun Goodwin.

Goodwin was appointed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani in January.

According to Huntley, the New York City Department of Investigation contacted her after the lawsuit was filed and informed her that the agency is reviewing her allegations. A DOI spokesperson confirmed to POLITICO that the department “is aware of this matter,” but declined further comment.

The lawsuit marks the first potential scandal to hit Mamdani’s young administration as the mayor celebrates his first 100 days in office after campaigning on promises of ethical reform and clean government.

According to court filings, Huntley received an anonymous complaint in late March alleging Goodwin had engaged in a “prior intimate relationship” with the department’s general counsel, Wayne McKenzie, who was hired after Goodwin took over the agency.

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The complaint alleged the relationship “may present a conflict of interest and impact impartial decision-making” within the department.

It also accused other officials of misconduct, including HR Director Zenia Melendez, who was alleged to have a history of “verbal and physical violence” toward 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 states. “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.”

Huntley said she forwarded the complaint to DOI on March 26 as part of her duties.

But according to the lawsuit, after she submitted it, a DOI attorney allegedly told her he planned to notify McKenzie despite his being named in the complaint.

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Huntley objected, warning that McKenzie should not be informed because he was implicated in the allegations. The attorney allegedly responded: “This is not like the old days where you don’t share information.”

The next day, Huntley says she was called into a meeting organized by McKenzie, where he referenced the anonymous complaint before firing her on the spot.

“I cannot have a person like Ebony working for me. Effective immediately, you are terminated,” McKenzie allegedly told her, according to the lawsuit.

After Huntley said she did not understand why she was being fired, McKenzie allegedly added, “You may be lost, but you can’t work for me. I am disappointed in you, Ebony. I thought you had more integrity.”

A termination notice dated March 30 and reviewed by POLITICO stated Huntley was fired immediately but gave no reason for her dismissal.

“It’s shitty, because I did what I was supposed to do,” Huntley told the outlet. “I didn’t do anything wrong and I definitely shouldn’t have been fired.“

Huntley is seeking unspecified monetary damages and has named both McKenzie and Goodwin in the lawsuit.

The controversy comes as the probation department remains under scrutiny from investigators.

Last month, Gothamist reported that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is investigating former Probation Commissioner Juanita Holmes after DOI referred allegations for criminal review. The exact scope of that investigation remains unclear.

Holmes, who served under former Mayor Eric Adams, faced repeated allegations of nepotism and patronage during her tenure, as Adams’ administration was rocked by ethics scandals.

When Mamdani appointed Goodwin in January, he praised the longtime department veteran as having “a proven record of achievement and a deep passion for service.”

At the time, Goodwin pledged to review concerns surrounding the troubled agency.

“I will look into what I hear, but I’m not certain that what is reported is what it is, so I’ll take the opportunity to evaluate and assess what needs to be done,” she said.

When later pressed on the department’s past issues, Mamdani cut off further discussion, saying: “I’m going to allow the commissioner to focus on the days ahead.”

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