Boston, September 18, 2025
News Summary
Marwa Khudaynazar, a former employee of Boston’s police accountability office, has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Michelle Wu and the city of Boston. The lawsuit alleges that Khudaynazar was wrongfully terminated after reporting sexual misconduct by a senior city official. Following her allegations against Segun Idowu, she claims retaliatory actions included leaking her private information to the media and undermining her professional affiliations. The lawsuit seeks damages for emotional distress and claims that the city’s internal investigation into the matter was flawed.
Boston
Marwa Khudaynazar, a former employee of Boston’s police accountability office, has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Michelle Wu and the city of Boston in Massachusetts Superior Court. The complaint centers on allegations that Khudaynazar was retaliated against and terminated after reporting sexual misconduct by a senior city official.
What the lawsuit alleges
The lawsuit claims Khudaynazar was unfairly fired to protect Segun Idowu, Wu’s chief of economic opportunity and inclusion, whom she accused of sexual misconduct. Khudaynazar alleges Idowu made sexual advances towards her during a bar meeting in May, including touching her lower back and inviting her to his hotel room, which she declined. Khudaynazar’s boyfriend, Chulan Huang, who worked for Idowu, reacted negatively to the incident, resulting in a domestic dispute that led to both of their arrests.
Both Khudaynazar and Huang were arrested for alleged domestic violence, and Khudaynazar was additionally charged with assaulting a police officer; they have pleaded not guilty. The city placed both Khudaynazar and Huang on unpaid leave following their arrests and subsequently terminated their employment five days later. The lawsuit accuses the city of retaliating against Khudaynazar by leaking private information to the media and seeking to destroy her reputation within Democratic political circles.
Allegations about the internal response and evidence
The lawsuit alleges that the city’s internal investigation into the matter was a “sham” and treated Khudaynazar differently compared to other city employees in similar circumstances. Khudaynazar contends that her termination was politically motivated to protect Idowu and Mayor Wu during her reelection campaign. The lawsuit also claims that Wu undermined Khudaynazar’s involvement in Emerge Massachusetts, an organization that supports women running for office, leading to Khudaynazar’s expulsion from the program.
Khudaynazar’s lawyer states that the lawsuit is partially based on undisclosed police body camera footage from her arrest, which allegedly contradicts the police’s version of events. The complaint alleges police officer Luke Payne made a racist remark during the arrest, claiming he would not allow Khudaynazar to speak with a supervisor. The city did not release requested public records related to Khudaynazar’s termination, despite an order from the state’s public records division.
Responses and investigatory findings
Idowu, while not a defendant in the lawsuit, has denied any wrongdoing but has not commented on whether he propositioned Khudaynazar. Both internal and external investigations found no violation of city policies by Idowu regarding Khudaynazar’s allegations. The mayor’s office and Boston Police Department have declined to comment due to pending litigation.
Relief sought
The lawsuit seeks emotional, compensatory, and punitive damages, citing that Khudaynazar’s life has been “wrecked” following the incident and her termination.
Case setting
The case is filed in Massachusetts Superior Court. The suit names Mayor Michelle Wu and the city of Boston as defendants; Segun Idowu is not named as a defendant in the complaint.
Background context
The matter stems from an encounter in May that Khudaynazar says involved inappropriate advances by a senior official. The subsequent reaction by an employee who was Khudaynazar’s partner at the time led to arrests and criminal charges that remain pending. The litigation now challenges the city’s personnel actions, investigatory processes, and public records handling, and frames those actions as punitive responses linked to politics and reputation management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who filed the lawsuit?
A: Marwa Khudaynazar, a former employee of Boston’s police accountability office, has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Michelle Wu and the city of Boston in Massachusetts Superior Court.
Q: What does the lawsuit claim about the firing?
A: The lawsuit claims Khudaynazar was unfairly fired to protect Segun Idowu, Wu’s chief of economic opportunity and inclusion, whom she accused of sexual misconduct.
Q: What are the allegations about the incident that led to the suit?
A: Khudaynazar alleges Idowu made sexual advances towards her during a bar meeting in May, including touching her lower back and inviting her to his hotel room, which she declined.
Q: What happened after the alleged incident?
A: Khudaynazar’s boyfriend, Chulan Huang, who worked for Idowu, reacted negatively to the incident, resulting in a domestic dispute that led to both of their arrests.
Q: Were there arrests and charges?
A: Both Khudaynazar and Huang were arrested for alleged domestic violence, and Khudaynazar was additionally charged with assaulting a police officer; they have pleaded not guilty.
Q: What does the lawsuit say about the city’s handling of the case?
A: The lawsuit accuses the city of retaliating against Khudaynazar by leaking private information to the media and seeking to destroy her reputation within Democratic political circles.
Q: What personnel actions did the city take?
A: The city placed both Khudaynazar and Huang on unpaid leave following their arrests and subsequently terminated their employment five days later.
Q: What does the lawsuit allege about the internal investigation?
A: The lawsuit alleges that the city’s internal investigation into the matter was a “sham” and treated Khudaynazar differently compared to other city employees in similar circumstances.
Q: Does the lawsuit claim political motives?
A: Khudaynazar contends that her termination was politically motivated to protect Idowu and Mayor Wu during her reelection campaign.
Q: Are there claims about other professional impacts?
A: The lawsuit also claims that Wu undermined Khudaynazar’s involvement in Emerge Massachusetts, an organization that supports women running for office, leading to Khudaynazar’s expulsion from the program.
Q: What evidence does the complaint reference?
A: Khudaynazar’s lawyer states that the lawsuit is partially based on undisclosed police body camera footage from her arrest, which allegedly contradicts the police’s version of events.
Q: Does the complaint include allegations about officer conduct?
A: The complaint alleges police officer Luke Payne made a racist remark during the arrest, claiming he would not allow Khudaynazar to speak with a supervisor.
Q: Were public records released?
A: The city did not release requested public records related to Khudaynazar’s termination, despite an order from the state’s public records division.
Q: Has Segun Idowu been named as a defendant?
A: Idowu, while not a defendant in the lawsuit, has denied any wrongdoing but has not commented on whether he propositioned Khudaynazar.
Q: What did investigations find regarding Idowu?
A: Both internal and external investigations found no violation of city policies by Idowu regarding Khudaynazar’s allegations.
Q: What relief does the lawsuit seek?
A: The lawsuit seeks emotional, compensatory, and punitive damages, citing that Khudaynazar’s life has been “wrecked” following the incident and her termination.
Q: Are city officials commenting?
A: The mayor’s office and Boston Police Department have declined to comment due to pending litigation.
Key facts table
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Plaintiff | Marwa Khudaynazar, a former employee of Boston’s police accountability office, has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Michelle Wu and the city of Boston in Massachusetts Superior Court. |
| Central allegation | The lawsuit claims Khudaynazar was unfairly fired to protect Segun Idowu, Wu’s chief of economic opportunity and inclusion, whom she accused of sexual misconduct. |
| Alleged incident | Khudaynazar alleges Idowu made sexual advances towards her during a bar meeting in May, including touching her lower back and inviting her to his hotel room, which she declined. |
| Related arrests | Both Khudaynazar and Huang were arrested for alleged domestic violence, and Khudaynazar was additionally charged with assaulting a police officer; they have pleaded not guilty. |
| Employment actions | The city placed both Khudaynazar and Huang on unpaid leave following their arrests and subsequently terminated their employment five days later. |
| Investigations | Both internal and external investigations found no violation of city policies by Idowu regarding Khudaynazar’s allegations. |
| Relief sought | The lawsuit seeks emotional, compensatory, and punitive damages, citing that Khudaynazar’s life has been “wrecked” following the incident and her termination. |
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Additional Resources
- The Boston Globe
- Boston Herald
- CNN
- CBS News
- NBC Boston
- Wikipedia: Boston
- Google Search: Boston sued by ex city worker
- Google Scholar: Boston lawsuit
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Boston
- Google News: Boston sued Khudaynazar
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
