NEW YORK (AP) — A New York district attorney says he has completed his investigation of sexual harassment allegations against Assemblyman Vito Lopez, and the lawmaker's conduct was "alarming" but not criminal.
Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan acted as a special prosecutor to look into claims made by female members of the Brooklyn Democrat's staff. He says he did more than 50 interviews and found Lopez's conduct was inappropriate. But he said there was no basis to conclude a chargeable offense was committed.
The scandal cost Lopez his leadership role. His lawyer called the news a welcome end to the saga.
Donovan lambasted the New York State Assembly for approving secret harassment settlements. He said it "apparently encouraged him to continue his inappropriate conduct."
But Donovan said the settlements were not criminal acts.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
