Borelli And Malliotakis: How Many More Sexual Harassment Scandals Have To Be Exposed For Silver To Step Down?

July 26, 2013

Assemblyman Joe Borelli (R,C,I-South Shore) and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R,C,I-Brooklyn, Staten Island) have reiterated their call for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to step down in light of another mishandled sexual harassment scandal. New information has been exposed showing that a top aide to Silver, Bill Collins, covered up and even threatened sexual harassment victims to keep allegations quiet. Despite this, Silver has yet to revoke Collins’ $145,000 taxpayer-funded salary.

“How many more cases of sexual harassment need to come to light before the Speaker owns up to his responsibilities?” said Borelli. “Any individual event in itself may be cause to step down, but what is happening is a systematic pattern of cover-ups, purposeful mishandlings and denials. It’s time for the Speaker to accept responsibility for this litany of deplorable behavior and step down.”

“This latest incident shows that not only is the Assembly unable to protect the women it employs from harassment, but is unwilling to punish the people responsible,” said Malliotakis. “It is completely unacceptable that members and staff repeatedly engage in this type of reprehensible behavior; but Mr. Collins' threats to a legislative aide who accused Speaker Silver's then-chief counsel of rape show just how fervently Assembly leadership works to preserve and promote this culture of abuse. Much like the way in which the Anthony Weiner saga is perpetually unfolding, we continue to learn more and more about the improprieties that have taken place in the New York State Assembly under Speaker Silver's watch. The fact that the politically-connected enablers who sweep this activity under the rug continue to proceed unimpeded shows just how badly this house needs new leadership.”

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