Metro

Vito looks to distance himself from Shelly in sexual harassment suit

After years of being joined at the hip politically, disgraced former Assemblyman Vito Lopez is looking to distance himself from Sheldon Silver in a pending sexual harassment lawsuit.

Lopez (D-Brooklyn) filed legal papers Wednesday seeking to be tried separately from the Assembly speaker in an upcoming civil trial over a lawsuit by two woman accusing Lopez of sexual harassment and Silver of turning a blind eye to the alleged perverted behavior.

“The allegations against Silver will severely prejudice Lopez, denying him a fair discovery process and a fair trial,” lawyer Lyle Zuckerman wrote Manhattan federal Judge Analisa Torres.

“The inquiry into the allegations that Silver turned a blind eye to many instances of sexual misconduct in the Assembly will necessarily include a parade of plaintiffs’ witnesses telling their stories of violation, and even more defense witnesses responding to those claims (potentially including an alleged rapist and convicted sex offender).

“None of this is relevant to the allegations against Lopez, but all of it is highly prejudicial.”

Lopez claims he’s innocent. Silver claims he took “swift and effective” action by going to the Ethics Committee to review the 2012 allegations after staffers Victoria Burhans and Chloe Rivera complained about Lopez.

Silver also alleged he can’t be held liable for a prior harassment complaint against Lopez that resulted in a cash settlement.