Anchorage News Anchor Exposes Alleged Mayoral Scandal, Punches Station Manager

Sometimes there's stories that make you think they're fake. For us, every single component of this story raises a red flag, but there's no evidence that shows otherwise. Anchorage is now facing possibly the scandal of the century.

Reporter Maria Athens, of Anchorage's Fox and ABC affiliated news stations, has forced the Mayor of Anchorage into resignation after making bizarre and, so far, unsubstantiated allegations against him.

First, Athens shared information to her Facebook page that she had some dirt on Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, saying he had shared X-Rated photos of his....thang onto a "underage girls website."

Shortly after the video went up Friday afternoon, the Mayor's office released a statement denying any and all allegations made by Athens. Athens then shared a photo of a man's backside, saying "Nice try damage control, certainly First Lady Killer Mara Kimmel can confirm that is her husband’s hairy ass and bathroom tiles."

It has since come out that Berkowitz was in an inappropriate relationship with Athens.

“I apologize to the people of Anchorage for a major lapse in judgement I made several years ago when I had a consensual, inappropriate messaging relationship with reporter Maria Athens,” Mayor Ethan Berkowitz said in a statement.

Athens was arrested Friday evening for punching the station manager, who she also reportedly was in a romantic relationship with.

According to the police report, Athens was in a vehicle with the station's general manager Scott Centers. She reportedly punched him, and hit him with her phone. Athens told officers she grabbed his arm because Centers was "driving erratically," but denies any other physical attack. She allegedly hit him again inside the station.

When officers arrived and arrested her, she reportedly struck an officer, and tried to kick the doors of a police cruiser. Officers put her in full restraints, but Athens denied.

Maria Athens has been charged with misdemeanor assault, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

Athens was extremely disruptive during her arraignment Saturday, interrupting prosecutors and the judge, at one point screaming out "I have pancreatitis!"

Later, a voicemail was leaked that Athens left on Berkowitz's phone, threatening to kill him and his wife.

Read more at Anchorage Daily News