Vito’s ‘abuse’ of power! Lopez called city worker to get goods in political case
Posted by Brooklyn Young Republican Club
Source: Aaron Short / Courier Life
Assemblyman Vito Lopez “abused” his office when he called a city employee and asked him to provide documents that he wanted to used in a bid to kick a political opponent off the ballot this year.
Good government groups blasted Lopez (D-Williamsburg) for placing a call to Housing Authority Intergovernmental Affairs Director Brian Honan last week, reminding him to appear in court and bring information regarding the leases of his opponent’s campaign workers.
Lopez is head of the Assembly Housing Committee and is invaluable to Honan on a variety of state legislation. That relationship colored the whole interchange, said Susan Lerner, the executive director of Common Cause, a government watchdog.
“The head of the housing committee calling a functionary in an agency over which he has direct oversight is an abuse of power,” said Lerner. “It’s not a courtesy reminder. It is an attempt to use his own personal political purposes for political gain and that’s improper. It looks like an attempt to intimidate the witness.”
Citizens Union Executive Director Dick Dadey agreed, saying that Lopez’s actions in the race were “outrageous” and “mind-boggling.”
“He may have abused the power of his office by requesting a city employee to participate in a political election dispute,” said Dadey. “It crosses a line that should be allowed.”
The concerning incident began last week, Lopez, who is also the chairman of the Kings County Democratic Party, sued Esteban Duran, his primary challenger for a district leader position, alleging that Duran’s nominating petitions contained widespread fraud and should be invalidated.
