Statement from a New York City Council Spokesperson on Law Department Filing Motion to Quash Council Member Vickie Paladino’s Subpoenas

On Monday, the New York City Law Department filed a motion to quash Council Member Vickie Paladino's 14 subpoenas served to Council Members, including Speaker Julie Menin. In response to the legal filing, a spokesperson for the New York City Council issued the following statement.

"Today's filing by the Law Department reinforces that Council Member Paladino's lawsuit and subpoenas have no merit. The Council is committed to upholding clear standards of workplace conduct, including anti-harassment and discrimination policies. The Committee on Rules, Privileges, Elections, Standards, and Ethics will continue to review this matter to determine whether discipline is appropriate."

Background:

The Law Department's legal filing, which can be read here, states in part:

"It is also quite plain from the nature and number of subpoenas that Petitioner hopes to turn proceedings before this Court into her own public sideshow. Ahead of the prescribed process given to her-the right to respond to the notice of charges, appropriate discovery within the confidential administrative process, a disciplinary hearing, and then the possibility that the Committee recommends discipline to the full Council-Petitioner seeks a public forum to interrogate council members about politically sensitive legislative matters and attack the legitimacy of the charges brought against her before they have been adjudicated in the appropriate forum. Given this, and, as discussed herein, no legitimate foundation supports the Subpoenas, and they should be quashed."

###