Mark Morales - Law Enforcement Reporter
Mark Morales
Law Enforcement Reporter
CNN law enforcement reporter. He focuses on the New York Police Department and other local, state and federal agencies in the northeast. He is New York based.
Latest
Donald Trump has promised a closed border and mass deportations. Those affected are taking action now
Nov 11, 2024
Immigrants, their employers and groups who work with them are already taking action ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term, in which he has promised to deport millions of people.
Daniel Penny’s lawyers argue he protected others, prosecutors say he ‘went too far’ as NYC subway manslaughter trial begins
Nov 2, 2024
The prosecution and defense painted dueling portraits of Daniel Penny in opening statements Friday in the former Marine’s manslaughter trial in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely on the New York City subway last year.
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO pleads not guilty to sixteen counts of sex trafficking and international prostitution
Oct 25, 2024
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries pleaded not guilty to a 16-count indictment at his arraignment in a New York federal court on Friday.
Sixth senior member of NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ administration is stepping down, source says
Oct 4, 2024
Another top aide of embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams is stepping down.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams pleads not guilty to federal corruption charges as New York’s governor considers removing him
Sep 28, 2024
New York City’s embattled mayor pleaded not guilty Friday to federal corruption charges after prosecutors accused him of using his power and influence to garner free trips, luxury hotel stays and questionable campaign donations.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams indicted on 5 federal public corruption charges, including bribery and wire fraud
Sep 27, 2024
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on five federal charges related to bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy and soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals, according to a 57-page indictment unsealed Thursday morning.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s administration is in chaos as federal probes target his inner circle
Sep 16, 2024
For months, Adams has been fending off claims that corruption and malfeasance permeate the highest ranks of his administration.
New York City’s police commissioner resigns as investigations swirl around mayor’s inner circle
Sep 12, 2024
New York Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban has resigned, he said Thursday in a statement, marking the first high-profile departure from Mayor Eric Adams’ administration since the start of four separate federal investigations into his office and the NYPD.
Georgia high school shooting suspect and his father make first court appearances, do not enter pleas
Sep 7, 2024
A 14-year-old Apalachee High School student and his father, who are both charged in connection with a shooting at the Georgia school that left two students and two teachers dead earlier this week, appeared in court Friday, both declining to enter a plea to the charges against them.
Federal investigators seized phones at the homes of several top aides to NYC Mayor Eric Adams, according to sources
Sep 6, 2024
Federal investigators on Wednesday seized electronic devices from the homes of several top officials in New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration, including the powerful police commissioner and two deputy mayors, according to multiple sources familiar with the probe.
The father of the Georgia school shooting suspect has been arrested and charged, authorities say
Sep 6, 2024
The father of the Apalachee High School shooting suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting that left four people dead, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
After NY governor says China’s consul general was removed, State Department says ‘there was no expulsion action’
Sep 4, 2024
Following New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s comments Wednesday that China’s consul general in New York was removed from his position after her former aide was charged with acting as an agent for the Chinese government, the US State Department said later that “there was no expulsion action.”
Former aide to New York governors charged with acting as an agent of the Chinese government
Sep 4, 2024
A former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo was charged with acting as an agent for the Chinese government, US Attorney Breon Peace announced Tuesday.
Disgraced former Rep. George Santos pleads guilty to federal charges
Aug 19, 2024
Former Republican Rep. George Santos pleaded guilty Monday to federal charges relating to fraudulent activity in his 2022 House campaign, just weeks before his federal trial was set to begin.
What those who served with them say about the VP nominees’ time in the military
Aug 19, 2024
Retired Staff Sgt. Ryan Marti enlisted in the Army National Guard before he even graduated high school, just like his football coach and teacher, future Minnesota governor Tim Walz. Another of Walz’s former students, Lt. Col. Jonathan Jaqua, also joined the Guard after graduating from Mankato West High School in southern Minnesota.
Former congressman George Santos expected to plead guilty to charges related to campaign fraud Monday
Aug 17, 2024
Former New York Rep. George Santos is expected to plead guilty Monday to federal charges relating to fraudulent activity during his 2022 midterm campaign, according to multiple sources familiar with the deal.
About
Mark Morales is a CNN law enforcement reporter. He focuses on the New York Police Department and other local, state and federal agencies in the northeast. He is based in New York.
Morales joined CNN in June 2018 and has broken news on several national stories including the suicide of Jeffrey Epstein, the college admissions scandal, Cesar Sayoc’s mail bomb plot, the mass shootings in Virginia Beach and Dayton, Ohio and others.
Before joining CNN, Morales was a crime reporter on Long Island, New York, for Newsday, where he wrote about the violent, transnational gang MS-13 and the record-setting deaths due to opioid addiction. He won a Press Club of Long Island award for his reporting.
Morales also previously covered law enforcement for the Wall Street Journal and crime for the New York Daily News where he was a staff reporter. While at the Daily News, Morales broke news during the manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombers. Before that, he got his start working nights and weekends as a desk assistant for WCBS Newsradio 880.
Morales is from Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Pace University with degrees in communications and Latin American studies. He also holds a Master’s Degree from the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, where he was also an adjunct lecturer.
