Investigation underway at Milwaukee City Hall after closed-door clash between alders leads to loss of committee positions and formal complaint

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – A private confrontation behind closed doors at Milwaukee City Hall is now having very public consequences.

Two Milwaukee alders were stripped of committee assignments. Now, they're publicly arguing over serious allegations of intimidation and hostility.

Both Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa and Ald. Mark Chambers acknowledge an argument in her office last Wednesday, Feb. 11. But they disagree on just about everything else that happened.

Sources inside City Hall tell CBS 58 Chambers verbally confronted Zamarripa over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the city before a press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 11. 

We're learning the city attorney directed the Department of Employee Relations to hire an outside investigator to handle this incident. But a source inside City Hall says that investigation stalled long enough that the city attorney had to remind the department.

The argument between Zamarripa and Chambers came to light this week after they were each removed from committees.

Council President Jose Perez removed Zamarripa as vice chair of the Community and Economic Development Committee.

And Chambers was removed as vice chair of the Judiciary and Legislation Committee and as a member of the Licenses Committee.

Chambers was the first to comment publicly, saying on social media Monday, Feb. 16, "It is a mischaracterization to suggest that because I am a man who raised his voice, anyone was in harm's way, or their safety was in question."

On Tuesday, Feb. 17, Zamarripa detailed her allegations in a statement.

"I was confronted in my office," she wrote, "verbally berated, and physically intimidated in a way that made me feel trapped and unable to safely exit."

She added, "I was subjected to profane and degrading remarks, including being taunted to 'start crying.'"

"The comments were gendered and demeaning," she wrote, adding, "This is not the first time I have experienced hostility from this individual."

Read Zamarripa's full statement below:

Later Tuesday, Chambers responded, saying, "I must strongly and unequivocally dispute the characterization of the events described regarding Feb. 11. The public account provided by Ald. Zamarripa and sources does not accurately reflect what occurred."

Chambers wrote, "I was not the aggressor in this interaction."

He added, "At no point did I physically block, threaten, or prevent anyone from leaving."

Chambers said, "Raised voices or strong disagreement should not be misrepresented as intimidation, abuse, or misconduct."

Read Chambers' full statement below:

Zamarripa filed a formal complaint against Chambers, but the city's Department of Employee Relations did not respond to a request for that document.

But Chambers wrote, "I will willingly and fully participate in any investigation."

Ald. Peter Burgelis confirmed he drafted a motion of censure detailing the incident.

CBS 58 saw a copy of that draft, which says Chambers engaged in conduct that was "unprofessional, threatening, and demeaning."

Burgelis has not yet filed that motion with the city clerk. He tells CBS 58 he's holding it until the third-party Department of Employee Relations investigation is completed.

If filed, it would be the first censure against a Milwaukee Common Council member since Mike McGee clashed with other city officials over racial issues in 1990.

CBS 58 has reached out to Council President Jose Perez for comment on the situation.

Neither Zamarripa nor Chambers have spoken publicly about this incident.