Quinn Blasts Vito Lopez, Says His Election To City Council Would Be An 'Outrage'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - The speaker of the New York City Council issued a sharp rebuke of a once-powerful state lawmaker who is seeking to become her colleague.
As WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported, a furious Christine Quinn declared that Vito Lopez should resign from the New York State Assembly and give up his bid for City Council.
Quinn said if Lopez does not drop out of the race, New Yorkers should rally behind his opponent Antonio Reynoso and said Lopez packing.
"Because to allow Vito Lopez, after what he did in the state capital, to be allowed into this building to potentially in the name of representing New Yorkers conduct himself in such a horrible way would be an outrage. And it is incumbent upon all of us in New York to join together behind Antonio and make sure Vito does not get into this building," Quinn told reporters including Lamb. "If he doesn't do that, everyone in New York City needs to get behind his opponent Antonio Reynoso get together and make sure that Antonio gets elected."
Quinn Blasts Vito Lopez, Says His Election To City Council Would Be An 'Outrage'
Quinn made her remarks one day after a state ethics report looking into accusations of sexual harassment at the hands of Lopez found the embattled assemblyman did not violate any laws.
Also Thursday, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says that although mistakes were made in handling sexual harassment claims against the Brooklyn assemblyman, he isn't responding to a call for him to step down as leader.
Silver issued a brief written statement Thursday after the Common Cause good-government group called for a public vote on his leadership. Common Cause also asked the Manhattan Democrat to justify why he should continue as speaker.
Common Cause says Silver's handling of claims against fellow Democratic Assemblyman Vito Lopez was "merely a cover up'' and "outrageous in the halls of government.''
The New York City National Organization of Women chapter had previously accused Silver of a "shameful cover-up at great expense to all women.''
A special prosecutor found "alarming'' actions by Lopez, but no crime.
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