A New York Assemblyman accused of sexually harassing women staffers for years says he will resign before he's expelled from the legislature. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver saysAssemblyman Vito Lopezhas said he will resign effective Monday morning. Silver had planned a rare expulsion proceeding against Lopez beginning Monday. Lopez was once a powerful Brooklyn Democratic leader and has been in the Assembly's Democratic majority since 1984.
Two reports released last week detailed lurid accusations of sexual harassment of several women on his staff, but neither report found proof of a crime. Silver was trying to expel Lopez on the basis of apparently violating Assembly policies against sexual harassment and retaliation.
The state ethics commission has also accused Lopez of civil violations of the Public Officer's Law.