Denver school board votes to censure vice president over alleged antisemitic remarks, lawyer's report inconclusive

The Denver school board voted to censure Vice President Monica Hunter over allegations that she violated board policy and made antisemitic comments about a fellow board member.

Hunter is accused of making antisemitic comments about fellow board member Amy Klein Molk, an allegation Hunter has denied. The alleged comments were made in December 2025 and January of this year.

A Denver law firm hired to investigate the claims found its investigation inconclusive, finding "Many of the allegations of Hunter making antisemitic and inappropriate remarks boil to a 'she said, she said, he said."

In the report, Superintendent Alex Marrero was asked about a statement he submitted to the board in August alleging that in a meeting last January Hunter referred to Molk as a "Zionist b----." Marrero acknowledged to the investigator that his statement "does not state exactly what Hunter said to him, 'but very similar.'"

Holland & Knight law firm is charging DPS up to $1,000 per hour for its services.

The investigator interviewed Board President Xochitl Gaytan and Marrero, who both made the allegations, as well as Hunter and Molk.

The report concludes, "What remains unclear in the investigation is whether Hunter's concerns or prejudice lie with Zionism and whether she equated that with Judaism for purposes of rendering those alleged statements as antisemitic."

Hunter told the investigator, "I told Amy I don't agree with Zionism and I don't agree with, I can't justify what's happening in Palestine."

The investigator further stated that the questions for the board are whether "Hunter's problems or fixation with Klein Molk are censurable" and whether the "statements made by Gaytan, the Superintendent, and Klein Molk are true and honest or whether Hunter's denials are true and honest."

Hunter claims the allegations are retaliation for seeking Superintendent Marrero's dismissal.

The investigator wrote, "She continually asks that if these allegations are true, why did it take so long 'after she tried to fire him' for them to surface."

In a 4-2 vote Thursday night, the school board censured Hunter.

Molk addressed Hunter directly, stating, "Vice President Hunter, the way you treated me at that lunch on December 4 was extremely hurtful. It is something that caused hours of pain and therapy and, with my family, I felt targeted for being a Jewish woman. And I forgive you."

During the censure vote, board members also discussed potential conflicts of interest Hunter had when promoting causes associated with her job at the state's teachers' union.