An explosive whistleblower report has accused union boss Richard Maroko, President of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council (HTC), of being involved in a union corruption scandal.
The report alleges that Maroko and other union officers accepted gifts from various hotel officials. Here’s how the whistleblower describes the situation:
“Mr. Maroko had personal knowledge of, and either directly participated or directed others to misappropriate millions of dollars of retail income… He accepted and allowed his Elected Officers to accept gifts of Hotel Rooms, Liquor, Gourmet Food and Electronic Items from Hotel Officials on a Quid Pro Quo System.”
The union responded to these allegations with two investigations by third-party law firms that HTC describes as “exhaustive” and “independent.” The union claims that these investigations cleared the union of wrongdoing. But a closer look reveals that the law firm that conducted the first investigation may be less independent than presented.
HTC used the law firm Pitta LLP for the investigation, which is practically part of the family.
Pitta LLP was founded by Vincent F. Pitta, who is the son of former HTC President Vito J. Pitta. Vincent is also the brother-in-law of Richard Maroko’s immediate predecessor as HTC President. Vincent Pitta’s sister, Debra, is married to former HTC President Peter Ward.
In other words, the son of an HTC President and brother-in-law of another HTC President found an HTC President innocent.
Beyond the family ties, Pitta LLP has been on the HTC payroll for years. Since Maroko took the helm of the union in 2020, the HTC and UNITE HERE Local 6 (which is an HTC affiliate) have paid Pitta LLP almost $12 million.
Source: HTC and UNITE HERE Local 6 Form LM2s 2020-2025, filed with the Department of Labor
Pitta’s investigation characterized the whistleblower report as “completely devoid of merit” and “frivolous.” With a relationship like this, could we ever have expected them to say otherwise?