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Republican mayoral candidate Joe Lhota says it’s time to pull the mic on Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Lhota yesterday called for the embattled Silver to relinquish his leadership role for his “cover-up” in the Vito Lopez sexual-harassment scandal.
Lhota said Silver’s strong-arm tactic of shutting off the microphone of a Westchester assemblyman in the chamber criticizing him over his handling of the scandal was just the latest in a string of leadership abuses by the longtime speaker.
“He has repeatedly, over and over again, shown complete gross abuse of his power in office and disregard for understanding,” Lhota said on the steps of City Hall.
“For all too long in Albany, there’s been a cover-up of what’s been going on regarding women’s rights and the abuse that’s going on,” he added. “[Silver] did nothing, and it allowed a certain member of the Assembly to continue abusing — sexually abusing — women.”
Silver approved a $103,080 hush deal to settle sex-harassment claims filed against former Assemblyman Lopez by two female staffers. The speaker admitted he erred by failing to report the initial cases for the Assembly ethics panel to investigate.
A scathing state investigative report last month found that Lopez groped or mistreated as many as eight female staffers — much of the harassment occurring after Silver was accused of covering up the initial harassment claims.
But when Assemblyman Steve Katz tried to bring those matters up Thursday during debate over a bill aimed at boosting women’s rights and protections, Assembly leaders told him it wasn’t relevant — and shut off his microphone.
“To cut off discussion, to abridge the freedom of speech, is unconscionable, ” said Lhota, who attributed the First Amendment violation to Silver and his “henchmen.”
Lhota also called on the City Council to block publicly-funded matching funds for candidates who face ethics charges.
That was a clear slap at Lopez, who is running for the council and has filed with the Campaign Finance Board to collect $92,500 in matching funds.
Silver denied Thursday that Katz’s mic had been pulled.
Michael Whyland, Silver’s spokesman, charged Lhota’s attack was “a desperate attempt to jump-start fundraising.”
At a debate earlier this week, the Democratic candidates for mayor all said they continue to support Silver.
Additional reporting by Beth DeFalco in Albany