By Elizabeth Benjamin
Saying there's a difference between misdemeanors like "jaywalking" and "violent crimes against human beings," Sen. Liz Krueger today became the first of the Senate Democrats to call for her colleague, Hiram Monserrate, to "resign immediately."
In a strongly-worded statement, Krueger said Monserrate should voluntarily give up his seat "for the sake of his constituents," even though his misdemeanor conviction doesn't require him to do so.
Krueger didn't want to weigh in on the hotly-debated legal question of whether the Senate has the legal authority to try to force Monserrate to step down, saying she's not an attorney and thus opted for the "by his own hand" solution instead.
"Domestic violence is a scourge on our society, and an issue which I believe requires us to speak out," Krueger said.
"Only through speaking out can we work to prevent more violence, support survivors, end the stigma and fear that victims deal with, and advocate for stronger penalties for those who believe they are above the law and violate another human being."
"The Senate is exploring our institutional legal options now that the Courts have ruled, but haven’t yet issued a sentence. For me, the length of the sentence does not matter - domestic violence is domestic violence, guilt is guilt. Therefore, I believe Hiram Monserrate should not remain in the Senate."
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