Someone who supports New York City Council candidate and alleged sexual harrasser Vito Lopez seems to have used a rather interesting strategy to drum up support for him on Election Day.
Councilman Brad Lander tweeted a photo on Tuesday of a flyer that encouraged voters to support Lopez. Lander said he found it outside a polling place in the Brooklyn district where Lopez is running. The flyer claimed most people who accuse others of sexual harrassment are lying.
“Over 95% of these cases prove to be unfounded. They are usually taken by disgruntled employees who are only looking for a cash settlement,” read one quote in the flyer attributed to a “noted human rights lawyer.”
Another quote, which was attributed to a “noted employment lawyer,” said, “When an accuser’s ‘story’ changes so many times, it ALWAYS proves to be false.”
It is impossible to assess whether the flyer came from Lopez’s campaign. A Lopez campaign staffer did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TPM. Lander told TPM there was nothing on the flyer indicating who paid for it.
Lopez was a member of the State Assembly up until March when he resigned while facing expulsion due to allegations of sexual harassment made by two former staffers. A report compiled by the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics detailed complaints made by Lopez’s staffers including accusations of forced kisses and hand massages, unwanted requests to “cuddle,” and groping. Immediately after relinquishing his Assembly seat, Lopez launched his council bid.
