NYC senator says Monserrate should be ousted (updated)
Democratic Sens. Liz Krueger of Manhattan, Suzi Oppenheimer of Mamaroneck, Westchester County, Neil Breslin of Albany, and David Valesky of Syracuse called on fellow Democratic Sen. Hiram Monserrate to resign.
The four senators issued statements today, following a Queens judge’s decision Thursday that Monserrate was guilty of a misdemeanor after being accused of slashing his girlfriend in the face.
Monserrate, a freshman senator from Queens, maintained that he was walking with a glass of water for his girlfriend last December, tripped, broke the glass and accidentally slashed her in the face. A state Supreme Court judge in Queens found Monserrate not guilty of two felonies and another misdemeanor in connection with the incident.
Monserrate would have lost his seat automatically if he had been convicted of a felony. Senate Democratic leaders said they are in discussions on whether Monserrate should be disciplined by the body.
“I believe Hiram Monserrate should not remain in the Senate, and for the sake of his constituents, the institution of the Senate and the Democratic party he should resign immediately based on the seriousness of his violent crime,” Krueger said in a statement.
“I am strong believer in our judicial system, and the Court has now spoken,” Oppenheimer’s statement said. “Senator Monserrate has been convicted of assaulting his partner. Domestic violence has no place in civilized society. I have spent my life fighting for the rights of abused women, which have been the subject of this trial.”
Sen. Ruben Diaz, D-Bronx, defended his colleague.
“It is a hypocrisy for my fellow Senators to demand for a more severe punishment of one colleague who has been tried in a court of law and found not guilty, while these same colleagues have ignored the actions of another colleague who took a plea crime that could have resulted in the death of children and families on the road!” Diaz said in a statement, referring to former Sen. John Sabini, a Democrat who was convicted of drunk driving.
The National Organization for Women of New York and NARAL Pro-Choice New York also called for Monserrate’s resignation.
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I have a great idea-what does suzi oppenheimer say, or any of our other notables?
the journal news fired all of their politics reporters. all that is left on this blog is reposting of the albany bureau. the paper will cease to exist by next year as it folds into the Poughkeepsie Journal.
It seems Monserrate is too “CRAZY” even for the Democratic Senate “CRAZY” Committee, but have no fear word is he is going to marry the women and all will be living happily there after, or until he finds another “CARD” in her pocket book.
VJ Machiavelli
No More Schumer
No More Pelosi
No More Rangel
No Mroe Engel and his Million Dollar Home in Maryland, and
No More Arthur Finkelstein & Co
VJ, I just heard about your loss. He was a good man.
Yonkers, I am at at loss since I don’t know what loss you are talking about.
VJ Machiavelli
No More Schumer
No More Pelosi
No More Rangel
No More Engel and his Million Dollar Home in Maryland, and
No More Arthur Finkelstein & Co
this guy should have never been the guy republicans were willing to make a deal with …skelos should resign
Let’s face it – far too many of them up there on both sides of the aisle are nothing more than opportunists bereft of any ethical center. As Yeats said, “The best lack all conviction and the worst are filled with passionate intensity.”
but it is extrememly troublesome that notwithstanding the
pending criminal charges against monsterrat…and the
notoriety that has surrounded pedro espada as well, that dean skelos would dane to make a deal with either of them
that is not what republicans should be standing for, regardless of whether or not the outcome is favorable
for republicans..
“the Consultant” is correct Skelos sold his members “VIRTUE” for “The Means Justifies the ends” and in the “END” we got LT Governor Ravitch,
Lets hope he has learned his lesson and will now try to restore “VIRTUE” and for ever forgo “The Means Justifies The Ends”
VJ Machiavelli
No More Schumer
No More Pelosi
No More Rangel
No More Engel and his Million Dollar Home in Maryland, and
No More Arthur Finkelstein & Co
Since he is losing some essential Democrats, Monserrate is probably just leaving from lunch with Skelos, at which luncheon his move back to the Republican side of the aisle might have been discussed. Were this to be so, would anyone be surprised?