Vito Lopez announced today that he will not seek reelection
as head of Brooklyn's powerful Democratic Party. The announcement came
after news that Lopez had been censured by the State Assembly's Ethics
Committee for sexually harassing two women, and further news that the
State Assembly had paid more than $103,000 in a secret settlement to settle two earlier sexual
harassment claims against Lopez.
Vito Lopez
Vito Lopez announced today that he will not seek reelection as head of Brooklyn's powerful Democratic Party. The announcement came after news that Lopez had been censured by the State Assembly's Ethics Committee for sexually harassing two women, and further news that the State Assembly had paid more than $103,000 in a secret settlement to settle two earlier sexual harassment claims against Lopez.
The Ethics Committee's investigation into the two more recent claims did not cite or mention the two earlier ones or the payments made to those victims, prompting calls for the Ethics Committee itself to be investigated.
Lopez is insisting on keeping his seat in the State Assembly, despite widespread calls from Democrats urging him to resign.
Lopez was the major opponent of the Child Victims Act (Markey Bill), which sought to make it easier for victims of child sexual abuse to take legal action against their abusers.
Lopez worked closely with the Catholic Church and Satmar to block the bill.