Vito Lopez has been reelected in a landslide, despite multiple allegations of sexual harassment by his (former) staffers and the ensuing scandal that has engulfed Sheldon Silver, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for their respective parts in drafting and approving a secret $100,000 settlement deal designed to muzzle Lopez’s accusers and hide those allegations from the public.
Not sure what is more shameful here — the allegations against Lopez or the fact that his constituents don’t seem to care.
What’s next for Vito? Well, according to multiple reports, Vito is now hinting that he will resign from the Assembly and run for a City Council seat. What gives? Some papers theorize that he needs to stay in public office so that he can use his campaign funds to pay his legal bills.
- Vito Lopez Breaks His Silence, Crain’s Insider (Nov. 8, 2012)
- Vito Lopez is Still and Assemblyman — But Maybe Not For Long, Village Voice (Nov. 8, 2012)
- Future Uncertain for Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez, New York Daily News (Nov. 7, 2012)
- Is this Vito Lopez’s Last Election?, City and State (Nov. 7, 2012)
- Gropez Bombshell: No Assembly Required, New York Post (Nov. 8, 2012)