Lhota: Dems More Concerned With Supporting Political Ally Than Victims

This came in from the Joe Lhota for Mayor camp.

LHOTA: DEMOCRATS MORE CONCERNED WITH SUPPORTING POLITICAL ALLY THAN VICTIMS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT 

Blasts Decision to Authorize Tax Dollars for Silver Legal Defense

  

Former Deputy Mayor Joe Lhota today blasted his Democratic rivals in the race for mayor for their support of Speaker Silver, charging they are more concerned with supporting a political ally than standing up for victims of sexual harassment.

 

At a televised NY1 debate last week, all of the Democratic candidates for mayor, with the exception of Eric Salgado, said they continue to support the Speaker, despite his direction to repeatedly  cover-up the sexual harassment and assault of young women in state government at the hands of political colleagues.  

 

Mr. Lhota last week called on his fellow candidates to join in a unified front against the sex abuse cover-up. The Democratic candidates have so far refused to heed the call and it is expected they will all seek the endorsement of the powerful Lower East Side Democrat. An earlier report in the New York Post indicated that Mr. Silver will likely back Bill Thompson in the Democratic primary.

 

“The fact that my opponents continue to support one of New York’s most powerful leaders when he repeatedly covered up the sexual harassment and abuse of young women shows they are more concerned with supporting a political ally than protecting women’s rights to a safe workplace,” said Mr. Lhota. “What are our values if those in public service continue protecting Speaker Silver and the harm he’s caused women? Is that really the message they want to send?

 

Mr. Lhota also blasted the decision to allow the Speaker to use taxpayer dollars to fund his legal expenses in two lawsuits filed against him by women who were victimized by former Assemblyman Vito Lopez.

 

“First, he used taxpayer dollars to give a six-figure hush-money settlement to the victims and now he is using taxpayer dollars to pay his legal bills in lawsuits where he is admittedly at fault,” said Mr. Lhota. “It’s absurd and a further assault on already strapped taxpayers. Who exactly is getting justice in this whole matter? As long as he’s in power, it’s not these women or the taxpayers of New York.”