New York Times: Monserrate Must Go

Anybody who has seen the disturbing video of State Senator Hiram Monserrate dragging his girlfriend through an apartment lobby knows that he does not belong in public office. Convicted last week of assaulting his unfortunate companion, Mr. Monserrate, a Queens Democrat, should resign immediately.

Mr. Monserrate, so far, has refused to do so, but the list of political figures calling for his departure grows by the hour. Not surprising, several leading female politicians have expressed outrage at his violent and abusive behavior — and at his apparent belief that he could get away with it.

New York City Council Members Annabel Palma and Melissa Mark-Viverito — whose voices are important because they, like Senator Monserrate, are Hispanic — were especially outspoken.

“We are both familiar with domestic violence and the cycle of damage it causes,” they said in a joint statement. “Lives are destroyed and futures are damaged; tragically, women and children suffer the harshest effects of this violent cycle. Our justice system has a long way to go in defending and safeguarding women against violent abusers, but we cannot remain silent anytime a woman is victimized.”

With Mr. Monserrate clinging to office, John Sampson, the Democratic conference leader in the Senate, has created a bipartisan committee that would have the authority to expel him.

This is not a simple matter. Though the Senate can throw somebody out, state law and the New York Constitution give little guidance about how to do it. But that is no excuse for inaction. The last expulsion in Albany occurred in 1920 when Assembly leaders engineered the rejection of five newly elected socialists on charges they were not sufficiently pro-American. Surely if those legislators could manage to expel colleagues for such an absurd reason, their modern-day counterparts can do it for a very good reason.

The New York State Legislature has a lot of important business on deck. It must attend to an alarming budget deficit. It needs a major housecleaning, from campaign finance to redistricting. It does not need to be distracted or consumed by the reprehensible behavior of one senator. The best outcome is for Mr. Monserrate to acknowledge his duty and quit.