Buffalo News: Oust Monserrate

Domestic violence conviction should end role as state senator

It's time for Hiram Monserrate to take his leave.

Convicted of a misdemeanor for a vicious assault on his girlfriend, the Bronx Democrat now either needs to resign from his seat in the State Senate or be expelled by the chamber itself.

Had he been convicted of the felony he was charged with, expulsion would have been automatic. Regardless, he was convicted of a misdemeanor and the injuries are the same. "In my view, the state has clearly proven he did, indeed, cause injury to Karla Giraldo without a reasonable doubt," said Supreme Court Justice William M. Erlbaum, who tried the case without a jury. "She's injured and bruised, black and blue marks. There's skin tearing. There's already injuries and a lot of blood."

Monserrate, a former police officer and New York City councilman, claims the injuries were caused accidentally, when he tripped while bringing her a glass of water in a dark bedroom. If a suspect gave him a story like that when he was a cop, we doubt Monserrate would hesitate in applying the cuffs.

At this point, Giraldo supports Monserrate's version of events, but testimony in the trial was that she initially told doctors and a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center that Monserrate had attacked her during a fight. She later denied making those statements.

Now the question moves to the Senate, which must decide if any minimum standards of conduct apply to its members. What should be expected of a New York State senator?

Is it all right for one to attack his girlfriend, as the judge concluded Monserrate did, and remain a member in good standing of one of the highest levels of state government?

What do New Yorkers, themselves, have a right to expect of those in state leadership positions?

At least one senator says Monserrate should go. Sen. Liz Krueger, D-Manhattan, on Friday called for Monserrate to step down. So has the National Organization for Women. Someone — either Monserrate or the Senate leadership — needs to have the decency and good political sense to see that that happens.