The disgrace that is State Senator Hiram Monserrate continues.
He is a disgrace because he is a convicted woman abuser.
He is guilty of a misdemeanor assault charge and faces a year in jail.
Monserrate is guilty of physically abusing his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo, and engaging in an act of domestic violence, according to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown.
Monserrate is a disgrace as a representative of his Queens district. He can no longer represent his constituents in Corona, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst and Jackson Heights fairly.
He is tainted by this conviction. He is tainted by the images on the controversial video, which showed Monserrate dragging Giraldo away from a neighbor’s door and out the front door.
He is tainted by the images of the bloody bathroom and towels.
Monserrate’s prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Scott Kessler, failed to remove the element of reasonable doubt in the mind of Judge William Erlbaum as to whether he in fact did slash or smash Giraldo in the face with a water glass during a jealous rage.
That is the explanation Giraldo gave to the Emergency Room personnel and doctors treated her bleeding wound with as many as 40 stitches. She expressed fear of Monserrate too.
He has never been required to explain why he did not call 9-1-1 for an ambulance, or why he chose to drive 30 minutes to a hospital 14 miles from his Jackson Heights apartment.
The reaction from his fellow politicians has been swift and loud. Monserrate’s colleagues know the potential damage that may be done to their political campaigns by allowing a convicted domestic violence abuser to remain in their ranks.
Even Queens County Democratic Party boss Congressmember Joseph Crowley said, “His violent behavior was not befitting a public official, and Queens residents deserve the opportunity to elect a new representative. He should close this troubling chapter by immediately resigning his office.”
We could not agree more.
Monserrate is a disgrace as a man, as a politician, as human being. He must resign now.
