In 1978, Golden faced an Internal Affairs Investigation and a disciplinary proceeding for losing his service weapon, which he claimed was a result of his mother discarding the firearm along with an old train set while he was away "on a vacation cruise".

[11] In February 2015, the New York Post reported that Golden had "proposed legislation requiring the state Health Department to inspect abortion clinics at least once every two years.

"[12] Following the murder of NYPD Officer Randolph Holder in 2015, Golden proposed legislation that would prevent anyone with two or more felony convictions from entering a drug treatment program as an alternative to imprisonment.

Tyrone Howard, the killer of Officer Holder, had a long history of arrests but was still allowed into a diversion program in early 2015.

[17][18][19] In September 2018, The New York Times described Golden as a "popular figure" in his district who has "consistently won support from both Republicans and Democrats, who know him for his omnipresence at scholarship dinners and senior citizens' birthday parties".

[25] In December 2017, the Albany Times Union reported that Golden had spent more than $797,000 in campaign funds at the Bay Ridge Manor.

[29] In July 2015, Senator Golden made a controversial joke on his Facebook page regarding marijuana and same-sex marriage, stating "It all makes sense now.

[30] In February 2017, Golden—speaking in defense of President Donald Trump's executive order barring persons from certain majority-Muslim nations from entering the United States—inaccurately claimed that a number of the terrorists involved in the 9-11 attacks lived in Bay Ridge.

[31] In June 2017, while endorsing his staffer, John Quaglione, in a local City Council race, Golden was overheard referring derisively to one of Quaglione's Democratic challengers as "Fat Boy" in front of reporters, warning a reporter present who had taken note of the gaffe not to print it or "[she] would never have a sit-down with [him] again.

"[32] In December 2017, Brian Howald, a bicyclist and member of Brooklyn Community Board 2's transportation committee, alleged that Golden, while a passenger in a vehicle that was driving illegally in the bicycle lane, impersonated a police officer and threatened to arrest him if he did not yield to Golden's vehicle.

The New York Post reported that Golden's car's plate number was associated with "more than 30 traffic violations over the last four years.

"[33] Following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in 2018, Golden fired a staffer named Anthony Testaverde who had shared Twitter posts comparing David Hogg to Hitler and Nazi Youth.