Millionaire banker resigns; faces charges for punching woman in viral Pride event video

Jonathan Kaye resigned from Moelis & Co. last week. (Image: screengrab from video @BigYash_609/X)

Millionaire investment banker Jonathan Kaye turned himself in to police on Monday, facing charges linked to a violent altercation during a Brooklyn Pride event in US. Kaye, 52, a former senior figure at Moelis & Co., resigned last week following public outrage and viral footage of the incident that saw him allegedly strike a woman, sending her crashing to the ground in Park Slope on June 8.

The New York Police Department has charged Kaye with two counts each of assault and menacing in the third degree, misdemeanours, and one count of second-degree harassment, a violation. His surrender came after the video of the incident spread online and leaflets with his photo stating he was the Managing Director of Moelis & Co. were posted around his affluent neighbourhood, where he resides in a $4 million townhouse with his family.

On June 8, an altercation began following a clash between Kaye and supposed members of an anti-Israel LGBTQ group at the Pride event. Sources close to Kaye maintain that he acted in self-defense after the group surrounded him and threw some liquid at him.

Perry reiterated this stance, stating Kaye had been "terrorised, assaulted, and surrounded by a group of unruly anti-semitic protesters."

“What the previously released video clip does not show is what another video and other evidence we have shared with the DA does show: that these agitators formed a ring around him, doused him with two unknown liquids, shoved him to the ground, and hurled anti-semitic slurs at him,” Perry said in a statement.

“Terrified and injured, Mr. Kaye managed to act in self-defense to escape the situation and return safely to his family.”

Even as millionaires, they are still history's recorded wildman. Johnathan Kaye, an investment director, is seen punching a woman in the face in NYC. pic.twitter.com/7kTNz9zgTq

— Kev_Almighty (@BigYash_609) June 10, 2024

Micah admitted to throwing water on Kaye but insisted it was a reaction to his aggressive approach. A 10-second clip of the incident shows a visibly upset Kaye walking away with his jacket soaked, but it doesn't capture the moments leading up to the confrontation.

New video footage from a different angle, released Monday, shows Kaye being splashed with water and Gatorade before the physical altercation ensued. Kaye was released without bail at his arraignment.

He was initially put on leave from his job but as the outrage grew, he resigned from his Manhattan-based company.

Kaye is scheduled to appear in court again on August 23.