STATEMENT FROM SENATOR ERIC SCHNEIDERMAN ON EXPULSION OF HIRAM MONSERRATE


ALBANY - In response to the Senate’s vote to expel Hiram Monserrate today, Senator Eric Schneiderman (D-Manhattan, Bronx) released the following statement: 



 

"Make no mistake about it, this is a sad day for the Senate. The expulsion of a Senator is a rare action that ought to be considered only in the most egregious of circumstances, but I believe the conduct of Senator Monserrate – his disregard for the law and for the safety of others – meets that standard.

 



"Senator Monserrate has not been honest about the events that led to his arrest and conviction, and, to this day, refuses to accept responsibility for his criminal conduct. 


 


"Above all, it is clear that the Senate cannot turn a blind eye to an act of domestic violence, a crime for which the state of New York has a zero-tolerance policy, and an attempt to evade responsibility for such a crime through dishonesty and bullying. Senator Monserrate’s abusive and unlawful conduct damages the integrity of the New York State Senate and demonstrates a lack of fitness to serve in this body.

 



"Due process was followed, justice was served."




According to a 55-page report issued by the Special Committee of Inquiry chaired by Sen. Schneiderman, the nature and seriousness of Senator Monserrate’s behavior, as demonstrated by the surveillance video and the other unrebutted evidence, showed a reckless disregard for his partner, Karla Giraldo’s well-being and for the severity of her injury.

 


This bipartisan committee of nine Republicans and Democrats - from upstate and downstate, conservative and liberal - came to the unanimous conclusion that the full Senate vote on Monserrate’s expulsion.




The Senate is granted the ability to remove its members, according to Legislative Law, Section 3, which unambiguously states, "Each house has the power to expel any of its members, after the report of a committee to inquire into the charges against him shall have been made."



 

The full committee report is available at: www.nysenate.gov/report/report-new-york-state-senate-select-committee-investigate-facts-and-circumstances-surrounding