The New York judge overseeing Wendy Williams’ guardianship was previously under investigation over what reporters described as a “concerning link” between her guardianship cases. Several sources are revisiting a January report from WABC, which detailed a six-month probe into Manhattan judge Lisa Sokoloff over allegations she took bribes from guardianship lawyers.
The news station learned that Sokoloff awarded guardianships to attorneys, law firms, and other parties who donated to her Supreme Court campaign fund between 2019 and 2022. The judge received $5,720 in campaign donations and granted 62 appointments in 2022 alone, according to public records.
Sokoloff appointed estate administration attorney Sabrina Morrissey as the former talk show host’s guardian after Wells Fargo froze Williams’ financial accounts in 2022. The investigation found that Morrissey didn’t make any donations to Sokoloff but the Manhattan judge awarded several guardianship appointments to the lawyer that same year.
Sokoloff also revoked power of attorney from Kevin Hunter Jr., Williams’ son, who was accused of spending over $300,000 of his mother’s money. He claims he always asked his mother’s permission before accessing her funds. Hunter Jr. also alleges Morrissey threatened to have him arrested, and she hasn’t disclosed which facility his mother was being treated at.
The legal battles over Williams’ estate unfolded amid the cancelation of The Wendy Williams Show and her divorce from Kevin Hunter Sr.
Williams’ team recently revealed the 59-year-old television star was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia in 2023.
“As Wendy’s fans are aware, in the past she has been open with the public about her medical struggles with Graves’ Disease and Lymphedema as well as other significant challenges related to her health,” Williams’ team said in a statement obtained by Page Six.
The announcement of Williams’ diagnosis dropped days before the premiere of her Lifetime documentary Where Is Wendy Williams?. Sokoloff approved the documentary’s airing after Morrissey filed a lawsuit to block the release.
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