LOPEZ GONE: Quits effective Monday 9 am
ALBANY — The Bushwick assemblyman accused of asking young female staffers to massage him, touch his cancerous tumors and join him in hotel rooms said Saturday he will resign rather than possibly be expelled from the Legislature amid sexual harassment allegations.
The announcement by Democratic Assemblyman Vito Lopez, 72, a once powerful Brooklyn Democratic leader, came as a surprise. A day earlier he had defied demands by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, leader of the Democratic party, to resign immediately.
Instead, Lopez said he would resign at the end of the legislative session on June 20 to fully pursue his candidacy for the New York City Council.