Assemblyman Vito Lopez Announces He Is In 'Deteriorating Health'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - Embattled Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez announced Tuesday that he has pneumonia and that his health is deteriorating.
Lopez, 71, is accused of sexually harassing young female staffers.
He released a one-paragraph statement saying this is his second pneumonia diagnosis in nine months. He says he's "extremely fatigued'' with limited mobility.
The statement went on to read: "The recuperation period is anticipated to be 4-8 weeks and possibly longer due Assembly Lopez diminished immune system and deteriorating health."
Lopez announced in 2010 that he had esophageal cancer. He said he was diagnosed with leukemia in 1993.
The once-powerful Lopez lost his job as Brooklyn Democratic party boss and was stripped of his Assembly leadership role last summer after the allegations were made public. The claims were settled in a secret, $103,000 payment using taxpayer money.
The state Joint Commission on Public Ethics is believed to have completed its investigation into Lopez and forwarded its findings to the Legislative Ethics Committee.
Critics have called on Lopez to resign amid the scandal.
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