Release the files. That’s the word from a federal judge on an investigation into alleged racism and discrimination at Allentown City Hall.
The lawyer for Allentown Deputy Clerk Tawanna Whitehead says the investigation done by a former FBI agent may have bearing on her claim that she faced discrimination.
There are a lot of names and a lot of claims in the preliminary report acquired by 69 News.
One person who is not mentioned by name in this report is Tawanna Whitehead.
It’s important to bear in mind that this is an investigative tool and not a legal document.
And the report is a fraction of the information the judge ordered released.
The 29-page “Curtis report” is the first look into what former FBI Agent Scott Curtis was allegedly told by Allentown city employees regarding claims of racism and discrimination at city hall.
Curtis was hired by city council in June of 2024.
At the time, Mayor Matt Tuerk argued council didn’t follow proper procedure in hiring Curtis and declined to pay him.
Page 6 of the report says:
Tuerk “both directly and indirectly via department heads and managers obstructed this investigation, instructing current employees not to comply with any aspect of this investigation.”
But according to redacted documents acquired through a right-to-know request, Curtis and his company conducted dozens of interviews, racking up more than $68,000 in charges.
The report concludes on page 8 that:
“The legal requirements have been met for a continuing hostile work environment in the city of Allentown, its racial issues persisting.”
The report’s findings are critical of Mayor Tuerk, alleging he made negative comments about employee’s ages, their religious beliefs and described some as trouble-makers.
In 2025, Curtis settled with the City of Allentown for $50,000, turning over all of his investigative materials.
A federal judge has ordered all of those materials be released because they could potentially impact a claim of discrimination filed by Allentown Deputy Clerk Tawanna Whitehead.
Federal ruling forces Allentown to release records in City Hall discrimination inquiry
Whitehead alleges Allentown City Council woman Candida Affa and other white colleagues subjected her to a racially hostile environment, which included name-calling.
“I will be getting the entire investigative file that was prepared by Scott Curtis during his investigation. That would be notes that he made during interviews, reports that he made, summaries, documents that he was given, all of his investigative materials,” said Marc Weinstein, attorney for Whitehead.
Weinstein says he should get the Curtis information in a few weeks and that he expects it to be voluminous.
He says he will share it with 69 News.
Meantime, 69 News reached out to the city. A spokesperson says the city is reviewing the next steps.
Candida Affa did not return calls asking for a comment.