New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing his first major controversy in office after a top probation official accused city leadership of retaliation and misconduct.
The allegations come from Ebony Huntley, the former chief investigator for the New York City Department of Probation, who filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Huntley claims she was fired after reporting concerns about an alleged relationship between Probation Commissioner Sharun Goodwin and a senior subordinate.
The lawsuit has already triggered an inquiry from the New York City Department of Investigation, which confirmed it is reviewing the matter.
According to court filings, the situation began in late March when Huntley received an anonymous complaint outlining potential misconduct inside the department.
The complaint alleged that Goodwin had engaged in a “prior intimate relationship” with general counsel Wayne McKenzie, raising concerns about conflicts of interest.
It also accused other officials, including HR Director Zenia Melendez, of contributing to a hostile workplace environment.
“Collectively, these concerns have created a workplace environment where employees feel uneasy,” the complaint stated.
Huntley said she forwarded the complaint to investigators on March 26 as part of her official duties.
What happened next is at the center of the lawsuit.
Huntley alleges that a Department of Investigation attorney planned to notify McKenzie about the complaint despite his being named in it, Trending Politics reported.
She objected, arguing that informing someone implicated in the allegations would compromise the integrity of the review.
The following day, Huntley says she was called into a meeting organized by McKenzie.
During that meeting, McKenzie allegedly referenced the complaint and terminated her employment on the spot.
“I cannot have a person like Ebony working for me. Effective immediately, you are terminated,” he reportedly told her.
Huntley claims she was given no clear explanation for her dismissal.
A termination notice dated March 30 confirmed she was fired immediately but did not provide a reason.
“It’s shitty, because I did what I was supposed to do,” Huntley said after filing the lawsuit.
She is now seeking monetary damages and has named both Goodwin and McKenzie in her legal complaint.
The case is quickly becoming a political problem for Mamdani, who campaigned on promises of ethical reform and clean government.
The controversy comes just as the mayor marks his first 100 days in office.
It also adds to ongoing scrutiny surrounding the probation department, which has faced multiple investigations in recent years.
Last month, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office began reviewing separate allegations involving former commissioner Juanita Holmes. When Mamdani appointed Goodwin earlier this year, he praised her leadership and commitment to reform.
