Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
"Explosive" Report Accuses Brooklyn Assemblyman "Gropez" Of "Years Of Piggish Behavior"
By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 14, 2013
Modified Feb 14, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 14, 2013
Modified Feb 14, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
New York State's Joint Commission on Public Ethics [JCOPE] has finished what is said to be an "explosive" report about the notorious Brooklyn power broker Assemblyman Vito Lopez, who's been accused of repeatedly sexually harassing multiple female staffers. The report has not been released to the public, but a source tells the Daily News it "eviscerates Lopez" and documents "years of piggish behavior." Another source says the report accuses Lopez, 71, of making sexual comments regarding a 14-year-old girl.
"He made comments about a 14-year-old intern," a source tells the Post. "How attractive she dressed, and he wanted one of the female staffers to dress in a sexy way like this 14-year-old." Sources familiar with the contents of the report also tell the tabloid that Lopez was known to order female assistants to massage his hands, supposedly for medical reasons**: "Some people are into feet. He’s into hands. It’s just his thing."** Oh, and he allegedly booked a single hotel room during a trip to Atlantic City and tried to pressure a female staffer to stay with him.
Four female staffers have previously come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Lopez, but sources say the JCOPE report has found “pattern of abuse” that goes far beyond their accusations. Of course, these sources are unsubstantiated and until the report is released, nothing about the allegations can be confirmed. The report was sent to Albany's Legislative Ethics Commission, a joint body of the Senate and Assembly.
The Legislative Ethics Commission has 45 days under the state's ethics law to review the report and take action. After that, the report must be made public—unless the commission asks for a 45 day extension or kicks the ball back to JCOPE for further investigation. Asked by the Daily News to make the report public, Assemblyman Charles Lavine, the co-chair of the Legislative Ethics Commission, said, “Given the confidential nature of this process, I am sure the readers of the Daily News will appreciate that I have no comment."
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver also wants the report to be made public, because it supposedly clears Silver of any wrongdoing. You'll recall that Silver became embroiled in the Lopez scandal when it was revealed by the NY Times that Silver's office authorized a secret payment of $103,080 to settle previous allegations by two other women against Lopez. "We are confident that the commission found no legal or ethical violation by Speaker Silver or his staff and urge the Legislative Ethics Commission to release the report immediately," Silver's spokesman told the Post.
The allegations of taxpayer funds being used as hush money to cover up the allegedly pervy actions of an allegedly dirty old man ultimately forced Lopez to give up his powerful position as head of the Brooklyn Democratic machine. He was censured by the Assembly and also had to take a pay cut. However, Lopez was re-elected in November, and last month he defiantly declared, "I won my district after a huge barrage of attacks and allegations. I got over 90 percent, over 30,000 people voted, and I have a strong mandate to come here and represent the district.”
In response to the provocative rumors about the JCOPE report, Sonia Ossorio, President of NOW NYC, said, "Given the new allegations that Mr. Lopez harassed a 14 year old child, NOW urges the Staten Island District Attorney and Legislative Ethics Committee (LEC) to seek the harshest possible penalties. Sexual harassment is rarely an isolated incident, but rather a systemic problem. JCOPE's investigation must be judged on the substance and depth, not simply the fact of it. We look forward to reading the full report."
Tagged
Albany
sexual harassment
vito lopez
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC looks to grow involvement in Open Streets as applications open for 2027
The Mamdani administration bolstered funding this year and is asking applicants to suggest infrastructure upgrades.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 12:52 p.m. ET
New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use
A new study found that nearly 2% of the city's natural gas is leaking into the air and causing climate pollution.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use
A new study found that nearly 2% of the city's natural gas is leaking into the air and causing climate pollution.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center
By
James Ramsay
Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
NY measles outbreak more widespread than official count, health officials say
By
Caroline Lewis
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .