Sensationalized, Uncorroborated Allegations Seek to Tarnish Reputation of Caroline Wojtaszek

Sensationalized, Uncorroborated Allegations Seek to Tarnish Reputation of Respected Niagara County Judge Caroline Wojtaszek

In recent days, uncorroborated accusations made under the cloak of anonymity have been circulated by multiple disgruntled employees at Batavia Downs targeting both Niagara County Court Judge Caroline Wojtaszek and her husband, former President and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. (WROTB) Henry Wojtaszek. These claims, alleging that Judge Wojtaszek “verbally accosted” an employee during a public event, were reported without evidence, without independent and unbiased witnesses, and without so much as a name attached publicly. Yet the story was published in a way designed to impugn the reputation of a respected jurist with decades of service to Niagara County.

At issue is a supposed confrontation at Batavia Downs on September 6th during the New York Sire Stakes “Night of Champions.” Judge Wojtaszek reportedly confronted a staff member critical of her husband. The story goes that she allegedly pointed a finger and called the staffer names, claiming opposition would not prevent her husband from returning to OTB’s board of directors.

Of note, the "incident" is said to have taken place after it was publicly reported by multiple news outlets - all critical of Henry Wojtaszek for years - that he was likely to return to WROTB on the Board of Directors.

What is absent from this account is telling: no independent or unbiased witnesses to corroborate the words allegedly spoken, no recordings, and no individuals willing to put their name to the accusations publicly. Instead, the narrative has been filtered through hearsay, relayed by employees with obvious motivations at a politically sensitive moment, which was Henry Wojtaszek’s reappointment to the OTB Board of Directors on September 16th.

The timing and circumstances suggest a coordinated effort to damage the reputations of both Caroline and Henry Wojtaszek at precisely the moment of Henry’s return to public service. That such allegations, based solely on the word of individuals with their own internal grievances, were given the weight of a public scandal reveals more about the media’s appetite for sensationalism than about the character of Judge Wojtaszek herself.

The reality is that Judge Wojtaszek has been caught up in the campaign to immune Henry's reputation that has been ongoing for half a decade.

Judge Wojtaszek is no stranger to the public eye as far as her character being assessed. As the first woman to serve as Niagara County District Attorney, elected in 2016, and now as a sitting Niagara County Court Judge since 2020, her record has been one of professionalism, dedication to justice, and tireless advocacy for victims. In over two decades of public service, there has never been a single substantiated allegation of impropriety, nor criticism of her conduct in public.

Her career reflects consistent leadership in some of the most difficult and emotionally charged areas of criminal law: prosecuting child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, and homicide cases. These are not the domains of a thin-skinned or impulsive figure, but of a professional who has demonstrated time and again her ability to remain composed, impartial, and committed to the rule of law.

Judge Wojtaszek’s record speaks louder than any anonymous claim. She personally developed programs to improve the prosecution of domestic violence cases in Niagara Falls, spearheaded efforts to address financial and physical abuse of the elderly, and worked alongside the Sexual Assault Response Team to strengthen investigations and provide trauma-informed training for law enforcement. She oversaw improvements to the Niagara Intelligence Crime Analysis Center by using forfeiture funds to enhance surveillance technology for local police.

The allegations against Judge Wojtaszek hinge on the recollections of a single employee, repeated second-hand to others, and amplified by the media without corroboration. According to reports, the alleged victim told “several people” about the incident, but none of those individuals actually witnessed the exchange. Not one person claims to have seen or heard the judge say the words attributed to her.

This is a fundamental problem. In journalism, uncorroborated claims made under condition of anonymity should be treated with skepticism, not amplified as they have been with respect to these claims. The employees making the accusations remain unnamed, their motivations unexplored, their credibility unexamined. Instead, the story is packaged as though a respected jurist had already been found guilty in the court of public opinion.

The irony is unmistakable: Judge Wojtaszek, whose entire career has been dedicated to ensuring fairness, transparency, and due process, is now the subject of a narrative built on innuendo and hearsay. To attack her credibility in this way is not just unfair, it is defamatory.

Why now? Why did these employees, who claim to have been troubled during Henry Wojtaszek’s tenure as CEO, not speak out publicly until after his departure in December 2024? Why wait until his reappointment to the OTB Board of Directors to suddenly raise an incident allegedly involving his wife?

The answer seems obvious. These allegations provide a convenient opportunity for critics of Henry Wojtaszek’s leadership to attempt to derail his return to OTB, even at the expense of tarnishing the reputation of his wife. Yet the facts of Henry’s record cannot be ignored.

When Henry Wojtaszek first joined Western Regional OTB in 2010 as general counsel, the organization was struggling. By the time he became president and CEO in 2016, he was tasked with restoring stability, growth, and public trust. His leadership delivered results.

Under his tenure, coin-in at Batavia Downs soared to nearly $1.2 billion by 2024 while net win approached $90 million. That growth translated into real benefits for taxpayers: nearly $10 million annually in surcharges and earnings distributions to WROTB’s 17 member municipalities, including Niagara County.

Beyond the numbers, he oversaw the modernization of Batavia Downs by expanding hotel, food, and entertainment offerings, hosting concerts and major events, and transforming the venue into a regional destination. His focus on fiscal responsibility balanced with customer service helped ensure the corporation’s continued financial strength.

This success was recognized not only by legislators but also by former OTB Board Chairman Richard Bianchi, who called Wojtaszek’s reappointment a “no-brainer.” At his reappointment meeting, Henry Wojtaszek pledged to donate his annual $4,000 board stipend to local charities, including the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier and a North Tonawanda food pantry, an act consistent with his long record of community service.

It is within this context of success, growth, and community commitment that anonymous critics have emerged to undermine both Henry and Judge Wojtaszek.

Against this record of service, from both Judge Wojtaszek and Henry, the current allegations appear flimsy at best and malicious at worst. No independent witnesses have confirmed the claims. No evidence has been provided beyond hearsay. The accusations emerged only after Henry Wojtaszek’s reappointment, raising obvious questions about timing and motive.

To treat such claims as grounds for questioning Judge Wojtaszek’s fitness for office is to abandon fairness entirely. It undermines not only her reputation but also the integrity of the judicial system, which depends on the public’s trust in impartial and principled judges.

Judge Wojtaszek has long been known for her professionalism, her compassion for victims, and her dedication to justice. That reputation is not erased by anonymous accusations repeated in the press.

The allegations leveled against her – anonymous, uncorroborated, and conveniently timed – should be seen for what they are: an attempt to generate sensational headlines and derail Henry Wojtaszek’s return to public service by tarnishing his wife.

Niagara County residents know better. They have seen Judge Wojtaszek’s decades of commitment, her trailblazing role as the county’s first female DA, her leadership in combating domestic violence, protecting children, prosecuting criminals, and serving justice with integrity. That record cannot be erased.

Judge Wojtaszek has always held herself to the highest ethical standards. The public should recognize this for what it is: sensationalized allegations and opportunistic politics.

Sensationalized, Uncorroborated Allegations Seek to Tarnish Reputation of Respected Niagara County Judge Caroline Wojtaszek