|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Edited by: TJVNews.com
A cloud of controversy hangs over Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez’s office as multiple current and former employees have come forward with serious allegations against his chief of staff, Maritza Ming, according to a report in the New York Post.
Ming, 51, is accused of berating subordinates, making derogatory remarks about Jewish colleagues by claiming that they have sense of entitlement and using her position for personal gain, the report noted. The shocking revelations have severely damaged morale within the office and driven out talented individuals.
One concerning aspect of the allegations involves Ming’s alleged contempt for Jewish colleagues. Sources claim that Ming referred to them as “privileged” and expressed dissatisfaction with the number of Jews in positions of power. An Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) investigation was initiated in response to Ming’s treatment of a Jewish employee, but it was closed without finding any violations. Another complaint related to a Jewish staffer is pending. Ming allegedly made derogatory comments about observant Jews in particular, suggesting that they should pay more for kosher meals at an office holiday party. The DA’s spokesperson has denied any anti-Semitic behavior and emphasized Ming’s role in promoting Jewish attorneys, although insiders claim she merely signed off on Gonzalez’s decisions.
In a statement sent to the Jewish Voice, Oren Yaniv, a spokesperson for the Brooklyn DA’s office said that, “Ms. Mejia-Ming is a trusted and valued advisor to the District Attorney who has worked around the clock to lead the DA’s Office through the hardships of the pandemic and the most sweeping changes to criminal justice in generations, which inevitably ruffled feathers among certain members of our staff. But meritless office gossip from anonymous sources is unfortunate and should not detract from more than two decades of dedicated and honorable service to the people of Brooklyn.
As a Jewish person who has been working very closely with Ms. Mejia-Ming for the past eight years, I can personally attest that the idea that she’s anti Jewish is preposterous. She was instrumental in promoting a variety of staffers, including many Jewish attorneys, to high positions in the office.”
Publicly celebrated for her Dominican heritage, Ming assumed the role of chief of staff at the Brooklyn DA’s office in 2018 and is responsible for overseeing hiring, promotions, budgeting, and assisting in managing investigations. However, the Post reported that according to 15 sources with direct knowledge of the office, Moreover, the purported toxic environment created by Ming has led to an anonymous backlash from employees, with many fearing retaliation for speaking out against her.
The Post reported that sources claim that she berated a former colleague at a retirement party, even challenging the individual to a fistfight. However, the DA’s office has stood by Ming, with their spokesperson denying the claims of abusive behavior.
Some employees wanted to file discrimination complaints against Ming but refrained from doing so, as the EEO officers reported to her and were considered her friends, raising concerns about potential bias in handling such cases, according to the Post report.
Additionally, employees have coined the hashtag #mingtoo to describe Ming’s questionable conduct and the negative impact she has had on the office’s atmosphere.
The allegations against Ming paint a picture of a toxic work environment, with many employees afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation, as was reported by the Post.
Several former and current staffers have also accused Ming of misusing office resources for personal benefit. They claim that on-duty detective-investigators and other employees were directed to run personal errands for Ming, including picking up her children from school using agency vehicles, the Post report revealed. Ming’s alleged disregard for office rules extended to issues like payroll and hiring, with accusations of her trying to “bully” the human resources department. She reportedly ordered staff to dock a prosecutor’s pay for working from home while Ming failed to submit her own timesheets accurately for years, receiving payment without proper documentation of her workdays and vacation time, the Post report added. Despite these allegations, Gonzalez has publicly supported Ming and even promoted her to a newly created role as “confidential executive ADA.”
The allegations have caused an uproar within the office, with many questioning Gonzalez’s continued support for Ming, according to the Post report. High-level staffers have reportedly left the office due to concerns related to her behavior. The situation has left employees outraged and baffled, as they grapple with the apparent disconnect between their experiences and the district attorney’s support for Ming, the Post report said.
