Politics & Government

Halloran Could Face Ethics Probe Over Alleged Relationship with Staffer: Report

City Council Speaker could launch an ethics probe into Halloran's alleged romance with a former intern.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, D-Manhattan, intends to launch an ethics probe into Councilman Dan Halloran’s alleged relationships with two staff members, the New York Post reported.

Halloran, who was recently arrested along with state Sen. Malcolm Smith, D-Jamaica, in an alleged scheme to rig the mayoral election, could now face disorderly-conduct sanctions, including dismissal, if he is found to have violated City Council ethics policies.

The councilman is alleged to have been involved with a former deputy chief of staff at his office between 2010 and 2011 and, more recently, a student from John Jay College of Criminal Justice who interned for him, the Post reported.

The intern, who is no longer working at Halloran’s office, was at the councilman’s home during his early morning arrest in the mayoral rigging scheme on April 2, according to the Post.

A spokesman for Quinn told the Post last weekend that the speaker planned to launch an ethics probe into Halloran’s alleged involvement with the staffers.

“The council takes [potential] sexual harassment and discrimination very seriously,” said Jamie McShane, a spokesman for Quinn. “Speaker Quinn will immediately refer [this] to the council’s Standards and Ethics Committee.”

A spokesman for Halloran said the councilman had no comment on the matter.

A source close to the councilman told the Post that Halloran had his intern resign to allow their relationship to continue. According to city rules, a City Council member is not allowed to be involved romantically with a subordinate.

On his Facebook page, Halloran’s status is listed as “in a relationship.”

Last week, the councilman pleaded not guilty in the alleged bribery scheme to get Smith on the Republican ballot in the mayoral race.


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