Turmoil surrounds second probe into Boston Metropolis Corridor office scandal

Disgraced Boston Metropolis Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson blocked a decision calling for the physique to help an out of doors investigation into sexual misconduct allegations that surfaced this week towards a prime Wu administration cupboard official.

Earlier within the day, town’s head of human assets knowledgeable the Council that town has launched a brand new probe into the allegations towards Segun Idowu, chief of financial alternative and inclusion, that have been made by a former metropolis worker.

Quite than being totally unbiased, the assessment will likely be performed by human assets with the help of exterior employment counsel, the Council was informed.

Fernandes Anderson objected to a late-file measure from Councilors Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy that referred to as for an “independent investigation into City Hall terminations, retaliation claims, and supervisory conduct,” thus stopping it from being added to the Council’s agenda or voted on at Wednesday’s assembly.

“Let’s be clear: someone who pled guilty just last month in federal court to public corruption charges blocked the Council from supporting an outside investigation into possible criminal wrongdoing by a top Wu official,” Murphy mentioned in an announcement to the Herald. “That’s not simply disappointing. It’s unbelievable.

“We were elected to lead, not to avoid accountability. I stand by this resolution and will continue to use my voice and my vote to advocate for what is right — even when it’s uncomfortable,” she added.

Fernandes Anderson was arrested final December and pleaded responsible final month to 2 federal corruption costs tied to a $7,000 bonus kickback scheme she carried out at Metropolis Corridor in June 2023, per the federal indictment.

She beforehand mentioned she would resign after the Council’s price range course of, which wrapped up Monday with the mayor signing the physique’s amended model of her $4.8 billion spending plan.

Murphy referred to as it “ironic” that Fernandes Anderson objected to an ethics matter involving misconduct allegations leveled towards one other metropolis worker.

Fernandes Anderson didn’t reply to the Herald’s request for touch upon why she blocked the day’s decision, which was non-binding and symbolic in nature.

Earlier within the day, the Council was knowledgeable by town’s Chief Individuals Officer Alex Lawrence that Metropolis Corridor has launched a brand new investigation into sexual misconduct allegations that surfaced this week towards Idowu, a prime Wu aide.

Lawrence mentioned that additional assessment from human assets was triggered by “new allegations” in a home matter that occurred final month and has already led to the firings of two metropolis staff. The inner investigation will likely be supported by exterior employment attorneys, she wrote in a Wednesday letter to the Council.

The exterior agency is Stoneman, Chandler & Miller LLP, a metropolis spokesperson mentioned.

Marwa Khudaynazar, ex-chief of employees for town’s Workplace of Police Accountability and Transparency, informed the Boston Globe that she and her boyfriend, Chulan Huang, ex-neighborhood enterprise supervisor for the Workplace of Financial Alternative and Inclusion, have been unfairly fired by town to guard Idowu, a prime cupboard official, and keep away from an election 12 months scandal for the mayor.

Khudaynazar and Huang have been arrested on home assault costs tied to a dispute that allegedly occurred Might 15 in Huang’s Chinatown house. Khudaynazar was additionally charged with assault on a police officer. Each have pleaded not responsible to the costs.

Each Khudaynazar, who informed the Globe that Idowu propositioned her, and Huang declined to touch upon the matter when reached by the Herald this week. Idowu has denied the misconduct allegations.

“The conduct of the implicated cabinet member was previously reviewed by the human resources department, and the city found no violation of law or city policy at that time,” Lawrence wrote. “The town had not obtained any allegations of misconduct or harassment from any events via the inner assessment course of previous to the media studies.

“Whenever the city receives an allegation of employee misconduct from an employee, a former employee, or a member of the public, the city’s human resources team takes steps to review and takes employment action accordingly.”

Previous to the day’s Council assembly and objection, Lawrence, citing steering she obtained from town’s legal professional and instantly referencing the decision, had cautioned the Council from wading into personnel issues.

Lawrence wrote that “such matters are outside the scope of the Council’s legislative authority and constitute an impermissible intrusion into executive branch’s personnel decisions.”

“We cannot comment further on a personnel matter, but urge the Council to refrain from further actions that, in addition to exceeding the Council’s authority, might interfere with a fair and expeditious process for all involved,” Lawrence wrote.

Flynn and Murphy argued, nonetheless, that their submitting was merely about taking a stand.

“The City Council made a clear and defining statement this afternoon that accountability, transparency, and ethics are not important in city government,” Flynn mentioned in an announcement to the Herald.

Idowu, for his half, welcomed town’s further assessment of the matter, in an announcement launched Wednesday via his legal professional Jeffrey Robbins, who additionally represents the Herald.