Banker from Moelis firm resigns following public altercation with a woman, resulting in physical assault
Jonathan Kaye, a former managing director at Moelis, was placed on leave by the bank on June 10 following a video surfacing that showed him punching a woman during a Pride celebration in Brooklyn. The incident has sparked an ongoing criminal investigation by the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.
According to reports, Kaye was walking through a crowd during the celebration when he pushed several people in a group, one of whom, Micah, splashed him with water. In response, Kaye is said to have called Micah's group a "bunch of useful idiots" before instigating the altercation.
Accounts of the incident on June 8 differ, with some suggesting that Kaye was surrounded by a group protesting Israel's military action in Gaza before being assaulted. However, Micah and her friends acknowledged that Kaye seemed angry when he walked by.
A woman who claimed to be the recipient of Kaye's filmed punch said he instigated the attack. However, Kaye's spokesperson stated that he felt threatened by an angry mob and used force to defend himself. The spokesperson also mentioned Kaye's history of living peacefully in New York City with no history of physical altercation.
One of the people Kaye shoved fell and sustained a broken nose, lacerations, a black eye, and lost consciousness. Moelis removed Kaye's biography from their website following his departure. Rick Polhemus has been appointed to run Moelis's U.S. business services in Kaye's place.
Kaye's spokesperson stated that his mistake was the presumption of non-violent discourse. The spokesperson also stated that Kaye plans to cooperate with authorities to clear his name. A source close to Kaye told the New York Post that Kaye was doused with a red and white liquid and felt threatened by the group.
There is a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, according to a spokesperson for Kaye. It's unclear if the incident at the Pride celebration is related to this rise in antisemitic incidents. The investigation into the altercation is ongoing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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