Link - per email here - further media here, full report here, The New York Times here.
Panel Finds Monserrate Unfit to Serve
Concluding that State Senator Hiram Monserrate lied about a domestic dispute in 2008 that left his companion with a gash to her face, a special Senate committee has recommended an immediate vote to remove the senator from office.
A report by the committee, which was released on Thursday, determined that Mr. Monserrate, a Democrat from Queens, put his interests above the safety of his companion, Karla Giraldo, and never expressed a sincere apology.
"The decisions made that night by Senator Monserrate as to the treatment of someone he ostensibly loved and cared for, were not consistent with the obvious need to obtain swift medical care for an injury of the seriousness of Ms. Giraldo's," the report states. "Whether the senator was worried for his political future or not, the evidence demonstrates both recklessness and callousness."
The nine-member committee, led by Senator Eric T. Schneiderman, a Democrat from Manhattan, also found that Mr. Monserrate's actions damaged the reputation of the Senate and demonstrated "a lack of fitness to serve in this body."
You can read that report in PDF here. Key grafs per CapCon:
The Select Committee finds that the nature and seriousness of Sen. Monserrate's conduct ... showed a reckless disregard for Ms. Geraldo's well-being and for the severity of her injury. We therefore find that ... Sen. Monserrate's misconduct damages the integrity and reputation of the New York State Senate and demonstrates a lack of fitness to serve in the body.
Accordingly, the Select Committee recommends that Sen. Monserrate be sanctioned by the full Senate, and that the Senate vote to impose one of two punishments: expulsion, or in the alternative, censure with revocation of privileges.
Update: Senator Liz Krueger says Hiram should do the right thing and resign already:
Following Hiram Monserrate's conviction, I requested his resignation from the New York State Senate. Based on the information before the public, I found his behavior deplorable and his conduct well below the standard by which elected officials should be held.
Soon after, the bi-partisan Special Committee on Inquiry quickly began an exhaustive review of not just the evidence leading up to Monserrate's conviction, but his conduct since--including his unwillingness to participate in the committee's process after publicly alleging his full cooperation.
I appreciate the seriousness with which this committee compiled their report, and after reviewing its findings, stand by my belief that Hiram Monserrate has no place in this or any other legislative body or elected office. Senator Monserrate still has a chance to finally do something right for the people of New York and resign, but as that seems unlikely, I am fully prepared to take action and vote for his expulsion. |
