Queens District Lawyer Melinda Katz prevented answering questions on The Submit's report on her utilizing her NYPD safety element to run errands.
Picture by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket by way of Getty Photos
Queens District Lawyer Melinda Katz dodged questions Monday about The Submit’s bombshell report revealing she used her safety element to assist her run errands — as high New York Republicans referred to as for an investigation into the potential misuse of taxpayer funds.
As a Submit reporter shouted questions, the borough’s high prosecutor saved her head down, walked straight into her Forest Hills residence and didn’t flip again after getting dropped off by her element simply earlier than 5 p.m.
It’s not clear the place Katz, 56, was getting back from, however she was in denims and sneakers and carrying her personal luggage.
The Submit reported Sunday that Katz used NYPD detectives assigned to her safety element to ferry her and her belongings to and from a million-dollar residence she not too long ago bought after promoting her earlier residence in February.
Gerald Kassar, the chairman of New York’s Conservative occasion, stated The Submit’s reporting warrants an investigation from metropolis officers.
“That is an inappropriate use of the NYPD. We’ve seen this misuse of police safety far too typically. It has to cease,” Kassar stated Monday.
“The NYPD’s inspector common ought to have a look at utilizing police manpower to assist DA Katz transfer. It’s simply not proper.”
On Tuesday morning, Katz was noticed loading 4 packing containers of belongings right into a black Ford Expedition that two plainclothes NYPD cops then drove to her new digs just a little over a mile away.
It was considered one of 4 journeys The Submit witnessed Katz make together with her safety element between her outdated and new properties that morning. Later within the week, plainclothes cops had been noticed carrying numerous gadgets from one of many properties and to the SUV.
Sources conversant in Katz’s routine stated that members of her safety element additionally had been hauling flat-screen TVs, groceries and dry cleansing round for her, in addition to loading her sons’ bicycles and sports activities gear into an official SUV, driving the household away and returning a number of hours later.
On Sunday, her workplace defended her use of the element, saying it was a part of the job.
Nick Langworthy, the chair of the New York State Republican Committee, roasted Katz, accusing the DA of appearing like she’s above the legislation.
“Whaddya know, one other Democrat prosecutor who doesn’t consider within the rule of legislation,” Langworthy instructed The Submit.
“As an alternative of abusing her taxpayer-funded element for private errands, she ought to be spending her time and sources attempting to get her Democrat Occasion’s crime disaster beneath management.”
Joe Murray, a lawyer and former police officer who unsuccessfully ran in opposition to Katz for Queens DA in 2019, additionally criticized the prosecutor.
“One of many issues the workplace of the Queens District Lawyer is meant to do is examine fraud and abuses of energy of presidency officers, to not have interaction in fraud and abuses of energy,” stated Murray.
“Melinda Katz belongs in a gaggle of elitist profession politicians who consider that public service means the ‘public ought to serve us.’”
Katz’s strikes are harking back to former Mayor Invoice de Blasio’s documented misuse of his safety crew. A damning metropolis Division of Investigation probe discovered that de Blasio used the Government Safety Unit to carry out “errands” for him and his household — together with serving to his daughter transfer and chauffeuring his son.
Such probes come up after confidential complaints are filed with the DOI or the Conflicts of Curiosity Board. It wasn’t clear by late Monday if any complaints had been made about Katz or if the businesses had been investigating. The DOI declined to remark.
Councilwoman Gale Brewer, the chair of the Metropolis Council’s Committee on Oversight and Investigations, instructed The Submit Katz’s misuse of her element doesn’t look like systemic and subsequently doesn’t warrant Council hearings.
“I've to give attention to schooling, cash; housing, federal cash; I may undergo a protracted checklist of issues that I’m targeted on… Placards is one other problem,” Brewer stated.
“I want huge subjects to give attention to,” she continued. “[That’s] my state of affairs for this committee, I’ve waited years to attempt to take care of these points that by no means appear to go away and are ongoing.”
A legislation enforcement supply urged not less than one main investigation is bound to come back: a Katz-ordered probe on whether or not anybody in her workplace leaked to The Submit.
“She can be stunned to see what number of don’t like her,” the supply stated.
“Most individuals who work for her are pleased she was uncovered.”
Extra reporting by Haley Brown and Tina Moore
Post a Comment