The scandal enveloping Brooklyn State Assemblyman Vito Lopez could have wider implications. Lopez is resigning from the Assembly Monday in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal. But as WBFO's Mark Scott reports, there are growing calls for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to step down.Erie County Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy is calling for Speaker Silver's removal. Langworthy accuses Silver of shielding Lopez from public scrutiny by agreeing to secret payments to victims in return for their silence.
Even the Buffalo News on Friday ran an editorial that was headlined, "Silver should go."
WBFO's Capitol Pressroom questioned two of the state's top Democrats about Silver's future. Governor Andrew Cuomo did not give a yes or no answer when asked if Silver should be removed, saying it's up to members of the Assembly to follow their own rules. But Cuomo did say he is concerned about the lasting impact from this and other scandals.
"Much of what we're trying to do here is serve the public," Cuomo said. "This reduces the credibility of government. So, it hurts every elected official."
State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman gave a firm no when asked if the longtime speaker should be removed from his post. But Schneiderman did say Silver still has work to do to make sure such harassment doesn't happen again.