Sources corroborate whistleblower claims of corruption, quid pro quo culture inside powerful NYC union

By Fox News · Fox News

FIRST ON FOX: A scathing whistleblower letter alleges corruption inside New York City’s powerful hotel workers union, including claims that union leaders accepted gifts from hotel executives, manipulated lease arrangements and improperly influenced union business in a culture of quid pro quo dealings — claims that were corroborated by union sources who spoke with Fox News Digital. The letter, reviewed by Fox News Digital, asserts that top officials within the New York Hotel Trades Council and UNITE HERE Local 6, including President Richard Maroko, participated in actions that violated internal policies, fiduciary obligations and possibly federal law. The union denies all allegations of impropriety and organized two internal investigations carried out by third-party lawyers who found the whistleblower's claims to be unsubstantiated. Fox News Digital spoke with the whistleblower and multiple sources with knowledge of the union’s inner dealings but is not identifying them by name due to fear of retaliation. EXPLOSIVE REPORT UNEARTHS PROMINENT UNION MONEY TRAIL LABELED A 'STUNNING BETRAYAL' OF MAGA MEMBERS "Mr. Maroko had personal knowledge of, and either directly participated or directed others to misappropriate millions of dollars of retail income," the letter states. "He accepted and allowed his Elected Officers to accept gifts of Hotel Rooms, Liquor, Gourmet Food and Electronic Items from Hotel Officials on a Quid Pro Quo System." A source with intimate knowledge of union operations told Fox News Digital that there was a sudden shift in HTC’s culture after Maroko ascended to the presidency in fall 2020. "For 25 years, maybe 24 years, there was a standard then that was really adhered to. [The former president ] was very disciplined about it as far as receiving gifts and what you did and didn't do," the source, who has decades of experience working with the union, said. "And the past five years when the new president came in, that was completely tossed." "Pretty soon…