A Second Democrat Calls On Silver To Step Down
Brooklyn Assemblywoman Inez Barron has become the second Democrat to call on Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to step aside in the wake of the Vito Lopez sexual harassment scandal.
In an “open letter” written May 23, Barron writes to Silver that his handling of the Lopez case and his effort to conceal payments more than $100,000 to allged victims of the ex-lawmaker’s harassment is grounds for him to lose the post he’s held since 1994.
“Your initial handling of the accusations against Mr. Vito Lopez demonstrates an unacceptable attempt to cover up the allegations of sexual harassment brought by two female employees,” Barron wrote. “The secret settlement of $103,000 using public funds is questionable at best, especially as pertains to the confidentiality clase. There were no measures put in place to protect the remaining female staff. The apparent lack of censure, discipline or reprimand for the unwelcome sexual advances has been suggested to hav encouraged continuation of the negative behavior and caused subsequent female employees to be subject to subsequent alleged inappropriate behavior.”
With the letter, the ideological extremes of Democratic lawmakers in the Assembly have found common ground. Barron joins Assemblyman Mickey Kearns of Buffalo in calling for Silver’s ouster.
Read more at http://capitaltonightny.ynn.com/2013/05/a-second-democrat-calls-on-silver-to-step-down/