Former federal prosecutor Nadia Shihata nominated to direct Department of Investigation amid push for government accountability
Veteran Prosecutor Takes Helm of NYC Corruption Fighter
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has nominated former federal prosecutor Nadia Shihata to serve as commissioner of the Department of Investigation, the city’s independent oversight agency tasked with rooting out corruption across city government. The nomination represents a deliberate choice to place aggressive prosecution experience at the helm of an agency that has moved into the spotlight due to corruption scandals during the previous administration.
Shihata’s Background
Shihata brings more than one decade of experience as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Most prominently, she led the team that brought racketeering charges against R&B singer R. Kelly on allegations of sexual abuse spanning decades. Kelly was convicted on all nine charges he faced and sentenced to thirty years in prison in September 2021, a case widely recognized as groundbreaking for its innovative use of racketeering statutes in a sex trafficking prosecution. Beyond the Kelly case, Shihata served as chief of the organized crime and gangs section, supervising complex racketeering and violent crime investigations and prosecutions. She also served as deputy chief of the office’s public integrity section, overseeing corruption cases involving bribery, fraud, and theft of government funds.
Recent Private Practice
Shihata left the U.S. attorney’s office in September 2022, shortly after Kelly’s conviction, to establish a women-owned boutique law firm, Shihata and Geddes, with Elizabeth Geddes, a fellow prosecutor on the Kelly case. The firm specializes in representing survivors of sexual violence and harassment, victims of law enforcement misconduct, and people under investigation by the government. This background in civil rights and internal investigations could bring a victim-centered approach to corruption investigations within city government.
Current Challenges at DOI
If confirmed by the City Council, Shihata would lead an agency facing significant challenges. The Department of Investigation has a mandate to investigate corruption, fraud, waste, and abuse across city agencies and among those conducting business with the city. The agency oversees multiple inspectors general and houses the inspector general for the New York Police Department. Previous DOI Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber was nominated by former Mayor Eric Adams and played a central role in investigating corruption throughout his administration, ultimately contributing to his indictment on federal charges that were later dropped at the behest of President Trump’s Department of Justice.
Mamdani’s Vision
Mamdani used Shihata’s nomination as an opportunity to signal a break from the Adams administration. “There will be zero tolerance for self-enrichment or corruption in my City Hall, but words are not enough. They must be backed up by action and accountability,” the mayor stated. He praised previous DOI Commissioner Strauber for performing “an extraordinary job at rooting out corruption at the highest levels of government” and pledged the new administration would “build on that work.” The mayor emphasized that his administration is turning the page on “the politics of corruption” and demonstrating what “a transparent and focused government can deliver for New Yorkers.”
Historical Significance
If confirmed, Shihata would become the first woman of color to lead the DOI. She is a naturalized citizen born in Egypt, bringing immigrant and cross-cultural perspectives to an agency responsible for maintaining integrity across city government. The Department of Investigation was created partly in response to municipal scandals of the 1870s that generated public outrage over official misconduct, including the notorious graft associated with political boss William “Boss” Tweed. The agency represents a foundational element of anti-corruption infrastructure.
Confirmation Process
The City Council must confirm Shihata’s nomination, a process typically involving committee hearings and questioning about relevant experience and philosophy. Some may question her potential conflicts given her recent work representing people under government investigation, though Shihata has indicated she represented no one under investigation by the DOI specifically. Christopher Ryan currently serves as acting commissioner of the Department of Investigation.
Moving Forward
Shihata expressed honor and humility at the nomination and stated she views the DOI commissioner position as a continuation of corruption-fighting work she has pursued throughout her career. She emphasized that the Department of Investigation plays a vital role in rooting out and preventing corruption and waste, ensuring city agencies operate with integrity, accountability, and fairness for all New Yorkers regardless of background, economic status, or proximity to power. See also: NYC Department of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice.
