Something else despicable, again.

This one comes to you courtesy of the Democratic Party of New York in Albany.

One Vito J. Lopez, the Brooklyn Democratic Assemblyman, has been stripped of his committee chairmanship, his seniority rights and has had his staff reduced in number and is enjoined from employing interns under 21 years of age, all as a result of having been seen to have sexually harassed two young female interns on his staff.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a Manhattan Democrat, said that the Assembly’s ethics committee had unanimously found allegations of both verbal and physical harassment to be credible. 

“There were multiple incidents of unwelcome physical conduct toward one complainant, wherein you put your hand on her leg, she removed your hand, and you then put your hand between her upper thighs, putting your hand as far up between her legs as you could go,” Mr. Silver wrote, describing the committee’s findings. 

He also said, “There was pervasive unwelcome verbal conduct by you toward both complainants from early June 2012 until the time they made complaints of sexual harassment in mid-July 2012, including repeated comments about their physical appearance, their bodies, their attire, and their private relationships.” 

He said that Mr. Lopez “required” one of the women to travel with him to Atlantic City last month, where he attempted to kiss her, and that “she struggled to fend you off before you stopped, and that on the drive back from Atlantic City you again put your hand between her legs.”

 It is refreshing to see that a Democratic dominated elected body is capable of taking such harsh action in response to the complaints of staffers as powerless as your typical intern.  Also, the imposition of sexual harassment training not only on the Assemblyman but on his staff as well, bodes well for the future.

Perhaps this will help to bring this issue to better public awareness.

Not to mention help a few people realize that the Democratic Party doesn't only smack down Republicans who cross this line.  Sexual harassment is wrong, no matter who does it or where it happens.