More Calls For Monserrate To Resign
By MEREDITH TRAINA | wpix.com

October 19, 2009
NEW YORK (WPIX)—
Sen. Charles Schumer says Hiram Monserrate should resign from New York's state Senate because of his conviction last week for assaulting his girlfriend.

Schumer says the Queens Democrat "should do the right thing" for the state and his constituents and step down.

Monserrate was convicted of a misdemeanor last week, after surveillance video caught him dragging his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo from his apartment last December. He was acquitted of a felony charge that he deliberately cut her face with a glass -- a felony conviction would have forced him out of office.

Monserrate's fellow democrats have been piling on the requests for him to step down. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says if he doesn't resign, the state senate should vote to expel him.

"Domestic violence has no place in our society, and certainly has no place in the state Legislature," Gillibrand said. "We must take a hard line against violence toward women in our society."

State Senator Liz Krueger made the same call last week, along with Senator Brian Foley from Long Island and Congressman Joe Crowley, head of the Queens Democratic Party. Crowley said Monserrate should resign immediately for behavior "not befitting a public official."

Spokesman Austin Shafran said the senate was still considering their options Monday. According to the state constitution: "Each house shall determine the rules and be the judge of qualifications of its own members."

Meanwhile, Monserrate says he'll fight any effort to kick him out of office. He has supporters in the senate who claim last week's conviction wasn't that serious.