Overview

• O’Keefe was taken off a Connecticut-bound train at Fordham station on Sept. 18 after a passenger complaint and a conductor’s call to MTA police.
• The MTA says security and body-worn camera footage shows O’Keefe had both legs across an adjacent seat and refused directions to exit, delaying the train about six minutes.
• O’Keefe, who is Black, posted video of the encounter and alleges he was targeted after an “old white woman” objected to how he was sitting, claiming officers never took her statement.
• He was handcuffed on the platform, issued a summons for disorderly conduct, and permitted to board the next train, with officials stressing he was not formally arrested.
• MTA Chair Janno Lieber said the incident stemmed from violating a feet-on-seat rule and pledged to review the video, which has not been publicly released as the clips circulated widely online.