Senator Hiram Monserrate, a Democrat, on Tuesday after meeting with members of his party behind closed doors.
Posted on 02/10/2010 3:48:54 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
ALBANY — The State Senate on Tuesday expelled a senator convicted of domestic assault, the first time in nearly a century that the Legislature has forced a member from office.
The Senate voted 53-to-8 to immediately oust the senator, Hiram Monserrate, a Queens Democrat convicted last fall of a misdemeanor for dragging his companion down the hallway of his apartment building.
The expulsion leaves the fragile balance of power in the Senate divided between 31 Democrats and 30 Republicans. Because legislation requires 32 votes to pass, Democrats will be unable to approve bills with just the support of their own conference.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Maybe Obama will make him a czar or something.
LOL!!
EXCERPT -- Despite allegations he slashed his girlfriend's face with broken glass in a jealous rage and has been indicted on domestic assault charges, he was sworn in (last March).
A grand jury in Queens indicted Hiram Monserrate on three counts of second-degree felony assault and three counts of third-degree misdemeanor assault. Arraignment is expected later this week. He faces seven years in prison if convicted on the most serious charges. Monserrate, a Democrat, issued a statement saying he did not commit a crime. "I've said all along this was accident. The district attorney's politically motivated decision to pursue this case doesn't change the fact that this was an accident," he said.
The 41-year-old former police officer was arrested after Karla Giraldo's face was slashed on Dec. 19 at his NYC home.........requiring 25 stitches. Monserrate told police he tripped while holding a glass of water. But authorities say surveillance videos painted a picture of a heated argument and a frightened, bleeding woman in distress.
According to the police report, Giraldo, 29, initially said she was assaulted, then changed her account after learning officers planned to arrest Monserrate. She later told police she did not wish to press charges. (ED. Giraldo claimed she could not speak English---but hospital personnel confirmed she spoke fluent English and understood English while being treated.)
After a closed-door meeting with fellow Democrats Monserrate asked to temporarily step down as chairman of the Consumer Affairs Committee. Monserrate's $12,500 stipend was withheld until the criminal case concluded. Monserrate will retain all his other duties and collect his $79,500 base pay.
SOURCE http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/ny_state_senator_hiram_monserr.html
I am shocked that the Dems ousted one of their own. Must have been a real no-brainer.
and my senator voted no... what a pos.....
Sometimes, somewhere, some Dems do the right thing.
I’m honestly surprised that Democrats ousted one of their own for anything less than murder. Good for them. I believe the Democrats in Washington would find it easy to forgive a little face-slashing in order to hold on to power.
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