12 - 12/7/20 Jennifer Naiburg - Chief Executive Assistant District Attorney, QDA Office Artwork

“Justice Delayed is Justice Denied” - “Let's Break The Silence Together”

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. In order to track bad actors in borough district attorney's offices and other law enforcement agencies throughout NYC who refuse to investigate, arrest and prosecute crime perpetrators, we need to document the blowback and victim-blaming that women often hear from both the police and the district attorneys when we use the criminal legal system to attain justice. The Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz is refusing to address the misconduct of her staffers and members of NYPD. These are telephone conversations between me and high-level members of the Queens District Attorney's office of Melinda Katz. PO Miguel Delacruz is an active member of NYPD. He committed multiple felonies and misdemeanors against me. PO Delacruz unlawfully surveilled our intimate encounter, threatened me, disseminated multiple video files, concealed the physical evidence. The Queens District Attorney's Office of Melinda Katz is not only refusing to prosecute PO Miguel Delacruz but is refusing to initiate a special proceeding in The Supreme Court, Queens County, Criminal Term, before the Honorable Joseph A. Zayas, Administrative Judge of Queens County, Criminal Term, seeking the appointment of a special district attorney. I’m so thankful to have Maya, Larry, Priscilla, Adam, Rocco, Molly, David, Diego and other reporters working on my story. I am forever grateful for the tremendous support from my family, friends, my attorney, Joe Murray, and his whole team. "Justice Delayed is Justice Denied" - " Let's Break The Silence Together " Melinda Katz NY1 Debate, October 23, 2019 and Melinda Katz Twitter, April 8, 2021

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“Justice Delayed is Justice Denied” - “Let's Break The Silence Together”

12 - 12/7/20 Jennifer Naiburg - Chief Executive Assistant District Attorney, QDA Office

April 08, 2021 • Valentina Veleva • Season 1 • Episode 12

2020 Gender Survey authored by the NYS Judicial Committee on Women in the Courts

The 2020 Gender Survey authored by the NYS Judicial Committee on Women in the Courts, showed overall a marked improvement from a similar 1986 survey, in how women are treated in the courts, including women attorneys, litigants, and court employees. However, what is very telling of this report relevant to Valentina’s treatment by EADA Brave and others, is the area of “Credibility and Court Interaction,” as reflected in the report’s findings. Id. at 69. The report found the data to reflect “although much improved continue to reflect a strain of bias against women participants in the judicial process that cannot be countenanced.” Id. We cannot be complacent, and we must be ever vigilant and mindful of the historic gender biases that has existed for years in the Courts. Similarly, given the richness of our immigrant community in Queens County we must also be mindful of cultural differences and family dynamics that could also make certain litigants more sensitive to gender biases.

My sister was one of the most protected girls in New York growing up with five older brothers looking after her. Similarly, my daughter has a brother, two parents and a large extended family ready to defend her in times of need. I am quite sure that even EADA Gerard Brave also enjoys the comfort of immediate access to his family and extended family for support during difficult times. Valentina immigrated here from her native home in Bulgaria alone. She has courageously fought this long hard battle by herself. I am absolutely humbled by her incredible passion and tenacity, which will be well received by both a Queens grand jury and petit jury.

For the aforementioned reasons, I respectfully request that you initiate a special proceeding in Supreme Court, Queens County, Criminal Term, before the Honorable Joseph A. Zayas, Administrative Judge of Queens County, Criminal Term, seeking the appointment of a special district attorney pursuant to NY CLS Uniform Rules, Crim Cts, 22 NYCRR § 200.15, and NYS County Law § 701.

I further respectfully request an immediate internal investigation into the disgusting treatment that Valentina received from very senior members of your office, especially, Executive Assistant District Attorney of the Investigations Division, Gerard Brave. Upon doing so, I have no doubt that you will conclude, as I have, that EADA Brave cannot and should not continue to serve the People of the State of New York.

Joseph W. Murray

Attorney for Ms. Valentina Veleva