Seven and a half weeks after posting a bombshell video claiming that former Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz had “posted x rated photos on an underage girl’s website,” local news reporter Maria Athens has reemerged on Twitter claiming that her “redemption” comes on Dec. 1.
Athens has worked as a news anchor for KBTY and KYUR. Her Nov. 30 tweet shows a photo of her walking toward the news station headquarters with the words, “REDEMPTION TOMORROW!!!”
Athens’ initial allegations against Berkowitz included her posting a photo which showed the back of a naked man who resembled the mayor. At the time, she said she would deliver a damning news report that would expose nefarious deeds by Berkowitz.
The station Athens works for never aired her story. The night she was to broadcast, Athens was arrested by Anchorage Police for disorderly conduct in the station’s parking lot. She was released after posting a $100 bail on Oct. 11.
Berkowitz, who is married to Mara Kimmel and has two daughters, immediately issued a statement saying the allegations were “slanderous” and “categorically false.” His administration called Athens’ claims a product of someone who is “hostile and unwell.”
Berkowitz also released an angry and threatening voicemail he received from Athens just before she attempted to go on air with her allegations. The Alaska Landmine blog quickly published the audio of the voicemail.
On Oct. 12, however, he issued an apology to Anchorage citizens in which he admitted to having an inappropriate relationship with Athens. He did not directly address the allegation that he posting x-rated photos except to say that he did not commit any crimes and had only engaged in a “consensual, inappropriate messaging relationship with reporter Maria Athens.” Berkowitz added that the ”Anchorage Police Department and FBI and found no evidence of criminal conduct.”
One day later, however, the mayor announced that he was resigning from office on Oct. 23. He has since been replaced by Assemblywoman Austin Quinn-Davidson, who was chosen by the Anchorage Assembly to take over as the unelected “acting mayor” of Anchorage.
Athens disappeared from the public eye after posting bail in mid-October, leaving Anchorage wondering what actually transpired between her and the mayor and why she accused him of “posting x-rated photos on an underage girl’s website.”
On Nov. 24, Athens broke her social media blackout with a benign Tweet, “Have a great Friday.” Then on Nov. 28 she tweeted: “#TELLALLTUESDAY #ONTHERUN #PROTECTED #SLANDER.”
In an apparent reference to Berkowitz, Athens next tweeted on Nov. 30: “What’s a consensual no romantic text affair anyways?! I never even kissed the man!”
She also denied that she “beat up a cop” and asked the question “why would I destroy my career if unfounded.”
Her latest post just states “REDEMPTION TOMORROW!!!” suggesting that KYUR and KTBY might air a Dec. 1 story on the whole sorted affair. The stations regular news broadcasts are at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.
6 Comments
Just look at her pic. She looks like a physo!
FBI Anchorage Police,,,, Dominion voting machines…. Totten what you see as a Physo,,, hmm whats a Physo I see as a Woman who cracked a DEM communist stranglehold on Anchorage…. Oh there is much more to do to return the City to sanity but the good folks of Anchorage and Alaska know in their hearts the awesome step Maria Athens took and the danger she put herself in by this Patriotic move… I say a prayer for her safety and salute her as the battle for our State and Republic rages. The political cowards that we have in office but a few that stand up for our Constitution Lora Reinbold Mike Shower and a couple others the rest got nothing on this Woman.
Mike Pompeo to Governors beholden to China.. Bill Walker sure got shmoozy,,, Gov Dunleavy?? I sure know he says nothing on Dominion… We shall see.https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D8aceYilTczQ%26feature%3Dyoutu.be%26fbclid%3DIwAR3-TfCCg7XIEPPVVrZrHUEKOUKBof-Bghw3NuBIkvS9LTsd120klCmfOsQ&h=AT2-5fA2cworoZHR1x1D3rUhuO5z7jtTjRHp4dKbHQWyo3jwzDP_HWdxbDK1-oep4sh985V-ETeFyP6I00xJsta7PamzgHuroJI91jC4NYwCU6QCM3FnNqWxV_BR1BYnEXAeCexGDg&__tn__=H-R&c%5B0%5D=AT1XxbqqZDqcRhN-ddIgyRbd6YyIzImEtMdNkg13LORe4o-SadP1NgaAYasSETbxM7RvEds0CGf4KARFaZy5k7E5hr60AH4dGaVViBuzzwCV_YgsJNae1BQTPwGLwyCqyvmbDa81IaRIwZMUc54MSd5I0axIGGWNNzhfL7c3mY5d8tl1oyJvRH0
Reports now coming out that China had recently purchased Dominion voting machinery and technology for $400 million… the thick plottens. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10218769199326446&set=a.1086340484099&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZWW48VXrIhklXNRV86bPLJH-HlPWquwFjdr7uOqxtKpETyMAfG86vkCaGXPxbX-HEu4I08AoIkRXOB54-nRryt7ZqkkFS2RIylUQDVyWFVFBAqfOqxeZqynbk_UoRid_odFphzwVad8fO3ve_hzalG7BfWt-Dc3wP9zCHL5sFykbg&__tn__=EH-R
They key part of the statement from the mayors office was “no criminal conduct.” The alleged minor was 16 year-old “non-sexual” escort. That lis a legal grey area. Federal law sets the age of a minor for texting obscene texts at under 16. Federal law on the escort issue only comes into play og the minor under 18 crosses state lines. So no federal crime is alleged. On the state side the age of consent in AK is 16. So this is a legal loophole that Ethan found himself in by the minor being 16 in a state where the age of consent is 16.
Looks like our little TV star blew a DUI a couple of weeks ago. Good job APD !! Back the Blue !!