Watermelon Left on Black Deputy’s Desk Sets Off Internal Meltdown as One of Federal Agency’s Highest-Ranking Officials Is Sidelined

A watermelon left on the desk of a Black senior official at the U.S. Marshals Service has turned into an internal scandal, costing one of the agency’s top leaders his position — at least for now. The incident, which has sparked outrage among deputy marshals and prompted some employees to nickname it “watermelon-gate,” has also raised questions about how such an incident could happen within the ranks of a federal law enforcement agency. The agency placed Peter Marketos, assistant director of the Marshals Service’s Investigative Operations Division, on administrative leave while it investigates his alleged involvement. Someone left the watermelon on the desk of a Black deputy assistant director who worked directly under Marketos, but investigators have yet to determine whether Marketos placed it there himself or someone under his supervision did, according to CBS News, citing sources familiar with the matter.

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