CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Though New York Democrats gathered here to re-nominate Barack Obama for president, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver found himself peppered today with questions about sexual harassment charges against Assemblyman Vito Lopez.
The speaker, who addressed the morning meeting of the New York delegation, told reporters later that he will await findings of the offices of the Brooklyn and Staten Island district attorneys before determining if criminal action could lead to expulsion proceedings similar to those involving former State Sen. Hiram Monseratte last year.
"If there is a criminal conviction, that could certainly be a set of conditions that could trigger a Monseratte type of response," he said.
Silver said last week he erred in not disclosing a private settlement using $103,000 of taxpayer money to compensate an Assembly employee who had accused Lopez - a Brooklyn Democrat - of sexual harassment. He said then and again today he thought such disclosure might discourage others in similar situations from coming forward.
But today he said he does not believe the Lopez situation will act as a distraction at the convention or in the business of the Assembly.
"This incident is one isolated individual," he said. "It is not systemic."
He said his members are "hardworking" people who do their job each day and are regularly versed in rules and regulations regarding sexual harassment.
He said the ethics committee to which the Lopez case has been referred is reviewing the case while raising questions as to whether it can recommend expulsion.
He also said he is confident the investigations into the allegations will lead to proper conclusions.
"We have laws against a lot of things in this country yet things happen." he said. "I'm hopeful this is an isolated incident."

email: rmccarthy@buffnews.com