A powerful lawmaker from New York has been accused of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior toward women who worked for him at his Brooklyn office. He has been asked to resign by the governor of New York and other political leaders in the state.
71-year-old Vito J. Lopez is one of the most influential and well-connected politicians in New York. From his position as the Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairman, he has become something of a center of power in himself. Elected to the State Assembly in 1984 and continuing to serve in that body for the last three decades, Lopez has accrued tremendous power and influence through the years. The Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, founded by Lopez, is one of Brooklyn’s biggest nonprofit organizations, and it has served as an effective tool for political patronage and financial support for the longtime assemblyman. He is in many ways a throwback to the old political establishment, a classic political boss.
But accusations of sexual harassment have rocked the New York political scene and imperiled Lopez’ future in public office. Several women have told The New York Times that Lopez engaged in a pattern of sexually aggressive, inappropriate and demeaning behavior toward them when they worked for him in his district office in Brooklyn.
According to several of the women, Lopez would comment on the appearance of his female staffers, ask them to dress provocatively, and in some cases, make sexual advances. His behavior apparently created a hostile and intimidating workplace that invited similar behavior from others who worked for him. One former staffer told the Times that she was cornered and propositioned by two male political aides at a hotel when she accompanied Lopez on a political retreat in the Catskills.
None of the women complained for fear of retribution. Lopez’ extensive political and social network in Brooklyn stood steadfastly behind him and represented a barrier to a fair hearing, at least in public. Lopez himself apparently had a furious temper, further intimidating the young women from lodging complaints.
But some of those former employees are feeling vindicated by a letter of censure issued by the State Assembly’s ethics committee, which investigated accusations of inappropriate behavior on the part of Lopez toward two former female staffers. According to the women, Lopez made sexual advances toward them and groped and kissed them without their consent. Lopez has denied the allegations. Nevertheless, the Assembly has stripped Lopez of a committee chairmanship, and although he has refused to step down from the legislature, he has said that he will not pursue another term as Chairman of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.
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