Contact: Michael Fraser, (518) 455-3751
"The details contained in this report are deeply troubling - to put it mildly. The investigation conducted by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) has uncovered a work environment and pattern of behavior that is alarming, unacceptable, and damaging to the individuals forced to endure those conditions.
There has been a great deal of anticipation for the release of the report, but making a public document available to the public is hardly the end of the process or cause for celebration. The JCOPE report was overdue, and with the conclusion of the investigation, with disturbing details now released, the public will rightfully expect and demand action.
The Staten Island District Attorney has elected not to pursue criminal charges in this matter, but has shed light on serious shortcomings in how this alarming situation was handled. The decision not to pursue a criminal case is irrelevant to the duties that now rest with the Legislative Ethics Commission.
At a time when public outcry for government reforms and anti-corruption measures has never been more intense, we must demand immediate action and clear recommendations from the Legislative Ethics Commission in response to this alarming report regarding Assemblyman Vito Lopez."