ALBANY - A $103,000 settlement using taxpayers' money to end a sexual harassment claim against an Assemblyman is continuing to build pressure on Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Albany where Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo says such settlements aren't uncommon.
A legislative official says the settlement paid in June at the Democratic speaker's direction but not disclosed until this week settled sexual harassment charges against Brooklyn Democrat Vito Lopez.
On Friday, Lopez was censured for other sexual harassment cases involving women staffers, according to the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.
The official says Friday's censure was by the Assembly ethics committee, which was never told about the previous settlement.
Dick Dadey of Citizens Union says the case shows the need for substantial reform in Albany.
