Vickie Paladino drops suit against NYC Council over anti-Muslim posts as disciplinary process ends

Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News on May 11, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

NEW YORK — Council member Vickie Paladino has agreed to drop her lawsuit against the New York City Council, which will now end disciplinary proceedings against her — the latest step in an ongoing saga over a series of anti-Muslim tweets posted by the councilmember.

Under the settlement agreement, Paladino must delete the tweets, remove references to her position as a council member on her personal X account and put out a statement. She will not be required to publicly apologize.

“The disciplinary charge against me has been withdrawn and I am withdrawing my lawsuit,” Paladino’s statement reads, per the settlement agreement.

“To be clear, my personal social media posts were not directed at any council member or staff. I am responsible for the content, I never intended to make council members or staff feel unwelcomed or unsafe in their work environment. I send a heartfelt thank you to the court for facilitating the resolution.”

Councilmember Sandra Ung, the chair of the Standards and Ethics Committee, said she talked to Paladino to express her disapproval.

“I believe the resolution strikes the right balance between protection of Council staff and First Amendment liberties of Council Members,” Ung said in statement. “I met with CM Paladino and told her that I did not approve of the contents of her tweets.”

Jim Walden, Paladino’s attorney, declined to comment. Per the settlement, neither party can post about the saga on social media.

Paladino filed the suit in March in response to the Council charging her with disorderly conduct for a handful of Islamophobic posts, arguing they violated the legislative body’s rules.

The suit was aimed at stopping the disciplinary process. Paladino argued that the posts, including one where she called for the “expulsion of Muslims from western nations,” were protected under the First Amendment and separate from her Council duties.

_____