NY ethics board: Lopez sex report will be public — eventually

May 1, 2013 Associated Press

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ALBANY — The state ethics board says its report into accusations that Assemblyman Vito Lopez sexually harassed young, women staffers will soon be made public.

The state Joint Commission on Public Ethics report is now in the hands of the Legislative Ethics Commission, which could take action against Lopez.

Under law, JCOPE must provide more time for the Legislative Ethics Commission to consider the report and any sanctions. But that period ends in mid-May and the report becomes public at that point.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver approved a $103,000 settlement, paid with public money, last year to settle some of the harassment claims against the 71-year-old Lopez, a once powerful North Brooklyn Democrat.

Lopez has denied the accusations.

Lopez continues in office, but was censured and stripped of leadership posts and stipends.