Democratic New York City Assemblyman Vito Lopez has announced that he will resign at the end of the legislative session in June, Wall Street Journal reported, amid a sexual harassment scandal. Lopez, who denies harassing his underlings, said he was stepping down in order to run for City Council in November.
"I have maintained my innocence throughout this matter and I believe no criminal investigation should ever have been conducted," the Brooklyn Democrat said in a statement.
"I have made no secret that I intend to run for New York City Council in November, which requires me to resign my current term," he continued. "Nevertheless, because the citizens of my district voted me back into office last November by an overwhelming majority, I feel obligated to serve out this session of the Assembly."
The state secretly paid women $103,000 to settle sexual harassment claims against Lopez. The 71-year-old assemblyman does not presently face criminal charges, however an ethics report claimed that Lopez groped and intimidated young female staffers over several years. The report also said they were forced to write letters to him about how much they loved their jobs, news reports said. He also tried to pressure them into staying with him in his hotel rooms, and threatened their jobs and careers if they did not succumb to his advances.
The New York Assembly now seeks Lopez's expulsion.
"Politically everyone wants to throw him out," said former Democratic Assemblyman Jack McEceny said.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver released a resolution on Friday calling on the Assembly Standing Committee on Ethics and Guidance to immediate review a report on Lopez from the state's Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE), recommending sanctions. The Assembly is expected to vote on the resolution Monday when it reconvenes, the AP reported.
Lopez said that as of Friday, a special prosecutor nor JCOPE did not find a basis for criminal charges against him.
The ethics commission, however found "a substantial basis to conclude" that Lopez violated civil provisions of state Public Officer's Law, adding that he violated the public's trust by forcing his employees to submit to his demands, in return of receiving privileges and better assignments, or be threatened with losing their jobs or demotion. The Daily News reported that Lopez once told 24-year-old staffer Chloe Rivera, he wished she would change her style and wear clothes like those of the 14-year-old intern in the office, who he said dressed in "a very sexy way."
Lopez was diagnosed with leukemia in 1993, and in 2010 was treated for a recurrence of cancer.
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