Politics in New York is usually a blood sport played in the headlines, but the saga of Curtis Sliwa and Melinda Katz is something else entirely. It’s a story that reads like a soap opera script—one where the Guardian Angels founder and the Queens District Attorney ended up in a web of secret children, frozen sperm, and a massive legal brawl. Honestly, if you didn't live through the news cycles of the early 2010s, it sounds made up.
Most people know Curtis Sliwa for his red beret and his relentless radio presence. Melinda Katz is the powerhouse Democrat who has held almost every major office in Queens. But for years, they shared a private life that was hidden from the public until it blew up in a very messy, very public way.
The Sperm Donor Secret
The whole thing went mainstream in 2012. Before that, Katz had been a single mother to two young boys, Carter and Hunter. She hadn't publicly named the father. Then, a bombshell New York Post exclusive dropped. It revealed that Sliwa was the biological father of both boys.
But the "how" was the weird part.
According to them, Katz had asked Sliwa for a sperm donation back in 1998 after she had an ovary removed during a medical emergency. They weren't together at the time. They had dated in the mid-90s, but it didn't stick. So, the story went that Sliwa donated, the sperm was frozen, and Katz used it years later—once in 2008 and again in 2010—to conceive her sons.
By the time the news broke, Sliwa and Katz were actually living together in Forest Hills. They had "reconnected" romantically while the second child, Hunter, was in the NICU fighting for his life. It was a heartwarming story of a modern family.
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Until his ex-wife stepped in.
When the "Frozen Sperm" Story Hit the Fan
Mary Sliwa, Curtis’s third wife, wasn't buying the IVF story for a second. She filed a lawsuit that turned the "modern family" narrative into a scandal. Mary claimed that Curtis and Melinda had been having a full-blown affair while she was still married to him.
She didn't just make the claim; she brought receipts.
Court documents revealed transcripts of voicemails Katz allegedly left for Sliwa. In one, she reportedly reminded him that they were together the night before his wedding to Mary. Another message from 2010—the year the second child was conceived—allegedly had Katz talking about how they "made love twice" the night before.
Basically, Mary's argument was simple: Why use "ancient frozen sperm" when you’re sleeping together in real-time? She accused them of concocting the IVF story to protect Katz’s political career. In the world of Queens politics, a "home-wrecker" label can be a death sentence for a candidate, and at the time, Katz was eyeing the Borough President seat.
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The Legal Aftermath and the "Nest Egg"
The drama didn't stop at accusations of infidelity. Mary Sliwa also alleged that Curtis was "nest-feathering." She claimed he was diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars to Katz to build a secret life while telling Mary he was broke.
- The Child Support Battle: Curtis was trying to lower his $13,000-a-month support payments to Mary, claiming his income had plummeted.
- The Stand: In 2013, Melinda Katz actually had to take the witness stand. It was a wild moment for a sitting politician. She was stoic, refused to answer intimate questions about the conception, and her lawyers fought to keep her private life private.
- The Breakup: Despite the "happily ever after" talk in 2012, the relationship didn't last. On Election Day in 2014—the day Katz was elected Queens Borough President—they reportedly split for good.
Raising Jewish Sons as a Catholic "Angel"
Even though they aren't together, the dynamic between Curtis Sliwa and Melinda Katz remains fascinating because of their kids. Sliwa is a Polish-Italian Catholic, but his sons with Katz are being raised Jewish.
You've probably seen the photos of Sliwa at the bar mitzvahs in 2021 and 2024. He actually had to move the ceremonies to a Reform synagogue because the Conservative one wouldn't let a non-Jew stand on the bimah (the platform where the Torah is read). Sliwa, being Sliwa, didn't want to just sit in the audience. He wanted to be part of the procession.
He’s been very vocal about supporting their identity. He’s even joked that with a last name like Katz, "there’s no escaping it." It’s a rare moment of domestic normalcy for a man who spent his life chasing criminals and headlines.
What This Tells Us About NYC Power
Looking back, the Sliwa-Katz saga is a masterclass in how New York power couples navigate the line between private scandals and public service.
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Katz survived the headlines. She won her Borough President race. She won a razor-thin primary for District Attorney in 2019 against Tiffany Cabán. She’s still one of the most powerful people in the city. Sliwa, meanwhile, continues his role as the city’s most colorful gadfly, running for Mayor in 2021 and 2025, always with that red beret.
They managed to keep their children out of the worst of the mudslinging, which is probably the most impressive part of the whole thing.
Actionable Insights for Following NYC Politics
If you're trying to understand the current political landscape in Queens or the history of its key players, keep these points in mind:
- Check the "Nest Egg" History: When people talk about Curtis Sliwa’s finances or Melinda Katz’s past campaigns, the 2013 court case is the primary source for a lot of the "dark money" rumors that occasionally resurface.
- Look Beyond the Party Label: The Sliwa-Katz relationship proves that in New York, political lines (Republican vs. Democrat) are often much blurrier in private than they appear on a debate stage.
- Follow the Endorsements: Katz’s ability to maintain her coalition despite the Sliwa scandal shows the strength of the Queens County Democratic Organization.
The story of Curtis Sliwa and Melinda Katz isn't just about a "sperm donor" or a radio host. It's about how two very different New York icons built a family, broke it apart, and managed to keep their careers intact through the wreckage.
Next Steps for Research:
If you want to dig deeper into the legal documents, search for the 2013 civil filings in Manhattan Supreme Court under Sliwa v. Sliwa. These records contain the full transcripts of the voicemails that nearly derailed both of their public images. Additionally, checking the NYC Board of Elections archives from 2014 provides context on how the scandal broke right as Katz was securing her first major executive role.