The state's government ethics panel emerged after a two-hour, closed-door meeting without commenting on whether it will investigate a sexual harassment scandal in the Assembly. WAMC’s Dave Lucas has more…
The Joint Commission on Public Ethics met in a special session Tuesday after Gov. Andrew Cuomo suggested in a news conference that the board should look into a private settlement using $103,000 in public money. That settled sexual harassment claims against Democratic Assemblyman Vito Lopez.
Lopez denies he sexually harassed anyone.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver had agreed to the once-secret settlement that he said was requested by the two former Lopez staff members who made the accusations.
Silver says he won't approve any more secret settlements because they conflict with the need for transparency in government.
©2012 Associated Press
