Senior Boston Official Steps Down Following Allegations of Sexual Misconduct and Cover-Up
A prominent figure within Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's administration has resigned his position, several months after a civil lawsuit was filed against the city alleging his involvement in sexual misconduct and a subsequent cover-up operation.
Segun Idowu, aged 37, has announced that his tenure as Mayor Wu's Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion will formally conclude on February 27. In a statement provided to local news outlets, Idowu cited a desire to care for his grandmother as the reason for his departure.
A Tenure Marred by Controversy and Legal Action
Idowu's time in the administration was overshadowed by scandal following a lawsuit initiated by former city official Marwa Khudaynazar. The legal action alleges that Mayor Wu's administration terminated Khudaynazar and another employee to shield Idowu from the allegations during an election year.
Khudaynazar, who previously served as Chief of Staff for the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency, has accused Mayor Wu and other city officials of 'destroying' her life after she reported Idowu's alleged sexual misconduct.
The controversy stems from an incident last May, detailed in a civil complaint filed in Massachusetts Superior Court. According to the documents, Khudaynazar and a friend encountered Idowu at a bar.
Detailed Allegations of Inappropriate Advances
The lawsuit contains specific allegations against Idowu. It claims he made sexual advances towards Khudaynazar, including touching her lower back and showing her his hotel reservation at the Boston Park Plaza. He then allegedly invited her to his room and kissed her.
Khudaynazar's attorneys state that she agreed to drive Idowu to the hotel but did not enter the building. Later that evening, she went to the home of her then-boyfriend, Chulan Huang—a former liaison for Chinatown and the Leather District—to inform him of the incident.
The situation escalated, leading Khudaynazar to call the police. According to the complaint, she told officers that Huang was upset because she "went on a date" with his boss and was restraining her. She allegedly explained she did not wish to press charges, noting they were all city officials and she wanted to avoid escalation. Despite this, officers arrested Huang.
Further Complications and Terminations
Khudaynazar was also accused of assaulting responding Officer Chris Santana, a claim her attorneys vehemently deny. They argue that body camera footage supports her version of events. Both Khudaynazar and Huang have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
A police report noted that Khudaynazar told officers, 'We both work for the city of Boston, we both work for the Mayor’s Office.' Her subsequent termination letter cited this statement as 'an improper attempt to invoke your position for favorable treatment.'
Mayor Wu's administration asserted that Khudaynazar and Huang attempted to use their official positions to evade arrest. In a statement at the time, Mayor Wu said, 'It is never OK to harm a police officer or to harm another member of our community.'
Lawsuit Alleges Political Motives
Khudaynazar's lawsuit presents a different narrative. Her attorneys contend she was simply conveying her understanding of police procedures and had no intention of using her status to avoid arrest. They added that the couple, both in their twenties, held no significant power within the administration.
The legal complaint argues that Idowu was 'important to Wu in securing many Black business owners' votes in the upcoming Boston mayoral election,' implying a political motive for protecting him. Khudaynazar has called her termination a 'public service career assassination' and believes she was 'punished for telling the truth.'
Official Responses and Investigations
Idowu's attorney previously stated that an investigation found 'no finding of any improper, unethical or inappropriate conduct on his part was made, because he engaged in none.'
Attorneys representing Mayor Wu, Officer Payne, and the City of Boston filed a response to the lawsuit on January 9. They allege Khudaynazar was afforded a hearing before her termination and that she contradicted herself in the complaint. The defense maintains she was terminated for invoking her position for favourable treatment.
In a statement, Mayor Wu praised Idowu's service, writing: 'His work has helped Boston rebound from the pandemic as a thriving city where companies and their employees want to work and live. I’m thankful for his service to the city of Boston and dedication to our community.'
The controversy unfolded during Mayor Wu's re-election year. Although Josh Kraft initially launched a bid to challenge her, he dropped out in September, leaving Wu to run unopposed.
