Judge Upholds Monserrate Decision
A federal judge today rejected Hiram Monserrate's suit to block his expulsion from the New York State Senate.
One of Monserrate's arguments against expulsion was that the voters of his district should decide if he keeps his seat, but U.S. District Judge William Pauley says the negative effect on the voting rights of citizens in the Queens Senate district is small because a special election has already been scheduled and the seat will only be vacant for a few weeks.
The special election to fill the seat has been scheduled for March 16.Monserrate will not be barred from that special ballot, and he has already said he'll run.
The state Senate voted 53 to 8 last week to expel Monserrate because of his conviction of misdemeanor assault for dragging his girlfriend through an apartment building lobby.
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says he's gratified that the court upheld the decision.
"The time for changing the culture of Albany is long past due," Cuomo said in a news release. "Today's ruling is a step in that direction. The Office of the Attorney General will continue to represent the Senate in this matter.”
One of Monserrate's arguments against expulsion was that the voters of his district should decide if he keeps his seat, but U.S. District Judge William Pauley says the negative effect on the voting rights of citizens in the Queens Senate district is small because a special election has already been scheduled and the seat will only be vacant for a few weeks.
The special election to fill the seat has been scheduled for March 16.Monserrate will not be barred from that special ballot, and he has already said he'll run.
The state Senate voted 53 to 8 last week to expel Monserrate because of his conviction of misdemeanor assault for dragging his girlfriend through an apartment building lobby.
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says he's gratified that the court upheld the decision.
"The time for changing the culture of Albany is long past due," Cuomo said in a news release. "Today's ruling is a step in that direction. The Office of the Attorney General will continue to represent the Senate in this matter.”
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