Logo

The chief of staff to Brooklyn state Sen. Simcha Felder has been placed on administrative leave after a female lobbyist accused him of groping her at a fundraiser.

“These are serious allegations and were reported immediately. We are following standard Senate procedure and he has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. I cannot comment any further at this time,” Felder said in a statement Tuesday.

The woman told the Albany Times Union that Rodney Powis, Felder’s Albany-based legislative director, grabbed her breast and touched her buttock at the campaign event for Sen. George Amedore (R-Kingston).

“Then he announced to the table, ‘I just grabbed her boob,’” the woman told the paper. “I looked across the table to a woman who was with us and I mouthed the word ‘Help.’”

She also claimed that Powis, who was “drinking heavily,” suggested she have sex with another man attending the fundraiser.

The woman posted an account of the incident on Facebook last Thursday evening after she returned home, but quickly removed it.

Amedore reported the harassment complaint to the Senate for investigation, a spokeswoman for the senator said.

Powis, 48, was involved in key issues dear to the senator, including discussions earlier this year about the regulation of yeshivas.

Powis did not return a text message for comment.

Felder, a conservative Democrat, is a pivotal figure in the Senate.

The Republicans hold a 32-31 majority in the chamber, but only because Felder caucuses with the GOP instead of the Democrats.

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy