THE two women who say they were raped by the Assembly’s former chief counsel have sent an unprecedented “open letter” to state lawmakers, urging an end to the “victimization” of female employees.
The women, former Assembly staffers, faxed the letter late last week to all 212 lawmakers in the wake of Senate Minority Leader David Paterson’s decision to fire his receptionist, Neysha Williams, who complained of harassment – and a nonsexual violent assault – at the hands of Sen. Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn).
“We have come together to address the prevalence of Assembly and Senate employees being victimized by those who hold immense power over their personal and professional lives, as well as their physical well-being,” Elizabeth Crothers and the second victim wrote.
Crothers filed an administrative charge of rape against Michael Boxley in 2001. The second victim asked that her name be kept out of the media after she accused Boxley in a criminal rape complaint in 2003.
“Rather than acting against the perpetrator, Sen. Paterson decided to transfer her [Williams] to another office after she complained,” says the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Post.
“When she declined, she was dismissed.
“Rather than hiding the alleged victim, we believe that those in leadership positions should consider relocating Mr. Parker: See how he likes being hidden in an office down the street.”
The women then call on legislators to “send a letter – publicly – to Sen. [Majority Leader Joseph] Bruno and Sen. Paterson, urging them to take steps to protect Ms. Williams, not sanction her.”
Paterson (D-Manhattan) defended his action, saying transferring Parker wouldn’t have made a difference because Williams “was a receptionist in my office, where she would have encountered him regularly.”
“We wanted to get her temporarily out of the line of fire, move her to protect her and respond to her concerns, and we even offered her a paid leave of absence, but over a period of a week, she refused,” he said.
State lawmakers were on vacation last week, and most aren’t expected to see the letter until today.
Boxley, 45, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of sexual misconduct in late 2003 under a plea bargain that kept him out of jail but required him to be placed on the state’s sex-offender registry.