Married Alaska mayor admits to inappropriate relationship with a local news anchor years ago just days after she posted a 'naked photo of him' and falsely accused him of sharing images of himself on an 'underage girls' website'

The married mayor of Anchorage in Alaska has apologized for having an 'inappropriate messaging relationship' with a local TV reporter just days after she made false allegations that he had shared images of his genitals on a website featuring underage girls and posted a naked photo online that she claimed was him. 

Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, 58, on Monday admitted to having a consensual relationship with 41-year-old Anchorage TV reporter Maria Athens several years ago.  

'I apologize to the people of Anchorage for a major lapse in judgment I made several years ago when I had a consensual, inappropriate messaging relationship with reporter Maria Athens,' Berkowitz said in a statement.

'I'm embarrassed and ashamed for the hurt I've caused my family and our community. I take responsibility for my actions.'

It is not clear how long the relationship between Berkowitz and Athens lasted and what the messages involved. 

Berkowitz has two children with his wife Mara Kimmel. 

His acknowledgement of the relationship followed a bizarre several days that involved Athens making the false allegations against him, Berkowitz's denial of those claims and then her arrest for punching her TV station manager who she is also dating.  

Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, 58, on Monday admitted to having a consensual relationship with 41-year-old Anchorage TV reporter Maria Athens several years ago. They are pictured above together in 2018

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, 58, on Monday admitted to having a consensual relationship with 41-year-old Anchorage TV reporter Maria Athens several years ago

The ordeal started when Athens, the anchor for the combined Fox/ABC station in Anchorage that operates as Your Alaska Link, first posted a video on her Facebook page on Friday.

Athens claimed she would break a story that Berkowitz had posted nude photos of himself to a website that featured underage girls. The video appeared to be filmed by someone else on a cellphone inside the TV studio.

'Breaking news. According to reliable sources, Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowtiz has his male genitalia posted on an underage girls website,' Athens said in the video. 

She went on to say that national news outlet would cover the allegations, saying: 'You heard it here first'.

The story that Athens promised to break never aired. 

Anchorage Police later said police and the FBI investigated Athens' claims but found there was no evidence of criminal conduct on Berkowitz's part. 

After the video started circulating online, Berkowitz's office immediately denied the unsubstantiated allegations. 

His office issued a statement saying the 'slanderous allegations' were 'categorically false' and that they 'appear to be the product of someone who is hostile and unwell.'  

The ordeal started to unfold when Athens, the anchor for the combined Fox/ABC station in Anchorage that operates as Your Alaska Link, first posted a video on her Facebook page on Friday

Athens then posted on Facebook a photo of what she claimed was the mayor's nude back side with the caption: 'Proof'.

She offered no context for the photo and it has not been confirmed if it is Berkowitz. 

Athens then posted on Facebook a photo of what she claimed was the mayor's nude back side with the caption: 'Proof'. She offered no context for the photo and it has not been confirmed if it is Berkowitz

Hours after posting the video and photo, Athens was arrested at the TV studios on Friday afternoon after getting into a physical altercation with her station manager Scott Centers.

According to court documents obtained by the Anchorage Daily News, Athens is in a romantic relationship with Centers. 

She is accused of punching Centers and hitting him with her cellphone during an argument inside a car in the parking lot.

She allegedly then hit Centers again inside the TV studio, court documents say.  

Police said that when she was taken into custody, Athens allegedly hit one of the officers in the chest and tried to kick the door of the police car.  

She was charged with misdemeanor assault, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. 

Athens was released on bail on Saturday.  

CEO of Coastal Television Bill Fielder distanced the network from Athens, saying the claims made by on her personal Facebook page about Berkowitz were never published by any of its news outlets.

Fielder said they had demanded Athens remove any mention or affiliation with the company in connection to the claims about Berkowitz.

The video and photo remained on Athens' Facebook page as of Tuesday. 

Fielder would not confirm if Athens has been fired. 

Berkowitz has two children with his wife Mara Kimmel (pictured above). He apologized on Monday for the hurt he has caused his family

After posting the video and photo, Athens was arrested at the TV studios on Friday afternoon after getting into a physical altercation with her station manager Scott Centers who she was in a relationship with. It is not clear if Athens has been fired from the station

Police said they had stationed officers at Berkowitz's home over the weekend after a threat was made against him.

They would not confirm the nature of the threat. 

Local news outlet the Anchorage Press on Monday obtained a voicemail they say Athens left for Berkowitz on Friday in which she threatened to kill him and made anti-Semitic remarks.

Hours after posting the video and photo, Athens was arrested at the TV studios on Friday afternoon after getting into a physical altercation with her station manager Scott Centers. According to court documents obtained by the Anchorage Daily News , Athens is in a romantic relationship with Centers

'Ethan, it's Maria Athens from Fox/NBC/CW/News Net National Alaska,' the woman in the recording says. 

'I'm so f***ing exposing you. I'm gonna get an Emmy. So you either turn yourself in, kill yourself, or do what you need to do. I will personally kill you and Mara Kimmel my god damn self, you Jewish piece of living f***ing s**t. You have met your match, motherf***er.

'I am such a good person and thought I loved you.'  

It is not clear if that voicemail is the same threat mention by police. 

In his statement acknowledging the relationship, Berkowitz said: 'It takes time to rebuild trust and I hope you afford me the opportunity to do so. During the remaining months of my term, I will continue working on the important issues we face.' 

Berkowitz was elected to his second three-year term as mayor in 2018. The non-partisan position is limited to two terms. He is a native of San Francisco who is also a lawyer and Anchorage businessman. 

He served as a Democrat in the Alaska House of Representative from 1997-2006. He served the last two years as minority leader.

Athens has interviews Berkowitz on several occasions.  Berkowitz was elected to his second three-year term as mayor in 2018