Controversy continues to envelop Queens Defenders, a nonprofit public defender group, as its board of directors has placed CEO and founder Lori Zeno on forced leave and terminated her husband, Rashad Ruhani, from his role as a senior legal advocate. The decision, as reported by The News, came down on Friday morning amid undisclosed allegations that prompted the board's swift action.
Zeno, who was receiving an annual salary of $434,791 according to records, and her husband, were not the sole casualties of the board's recent measures. Teyana Reyes and Ureka Washington, two other employees of the nonprofit, were also dismissed from their positions, as the Queens Daily Eagle first reported. Details surrounding the nature of the information received by the board that led to these terminations remain unclear.
An internal email circulated among staff stated, "As a result of information received by the Board of Queens Defenders, Lori Zeno has been placed on leave effective immediately and is not allowed on any Queens Defenders property," further advising that any contact or attempts of intimidation should be reported, as noted by the Queens Daily Eagle. Staff members have been directed to the state Attorney General’s whistleblower office for filing complaints related to the unfolding situation. Alexis Richards, a spokeswoman with the AG’s office, maintained the office's stance of not commenting on ongoing investigations.
The board has announced an impending review of employee relations conduct and the appointment of an a leadership team. Furthermore, a meeting will be arranged in the coming days to allow employees to speak to the board directly. Last year, Zeno faced criticism from a union representing public defenders for firing two lawyers amidst a union election. At the time, the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys accused Zeno of "heavy-handed union busting," a stance she defended in her 2021 interview with the Queens Daily Eagle, highlighting an ethical and practical opposition to striking for higher benefits while one’s clients face court dates.
Lori Zeno has been no stranger to controversy during her time at the helm of Queens Defenders since 2018. In addition to the union-related disputes, she was also at the center of a furor in 2021 over her handling of a COVID-19 outbreak within the organization. Zeno, it emerged, had herself contracted the virus but chose to delay disclosing this fact to her staff. According to The News, Zeno expressed her fear and concern over how this revelation might be perceived given previous allegations about her conduct and the workplace culture at Queens Defenders. Queens Defenders has yet to provide a response on the matter of Zeno's leave and the series of firings.
