ALBANY — Embattled Sen. Hiram Monserrate learned today that women will make up a majority of the panel tasked to decide whether he should lose his Senate seat for roughing up his girlfriend.
Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson named four female Democrats to sit on a special nine-member committee to review Monserrate’s conviction last week on a misdemeanor assault charge.
Monserrate (D-Queens) was found not guilty of two felonies.
Republicans are expected to select at least one female senator for the panel, giving women at least five seats.
“As a father with daughters I am not only angry, but I’m pissed off,” Sampson said. “But as a leader I cannot let my personal feelings supersede the individual rights of each member.”
“While there may be many calls for our colleague to resign that is his choice and his choice alone,” he continued.
Monserrate’s lawyer Joseph Tacopina said he believed there was “no legal basis” to expel the freshman senator from the Senate.
“My prediction is he is not going to be removed from his Senate seat,” said Tacopina.
Another Monserrate supporter, Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. (D-Bronx), accused Sampson of bowing to pressure from the press and succumbing racial tensions within the Democratic conference.
“They never did this before,” Diaz said. “They’re only doing it for a Puerto Rican.