Democratic Brooklyn assemblyman Vito Lopez was evidently fond of ordering his female employees to wear short skirts and high heels, giving them money to buy jewelry, and berating those who, according to the Times, "did not compliment him effusively enough."

The sexual harassment scandal that has been roiling New York's political world began last Friday, when the Assembly's ethics committee substantiated claims that Mr. Lopez harassed two women. The Assembly released a letter censuring Mr. Lopez, one of the city's last powerful political bosses, taking away his committee chairmanship and barred him from employing interns or anyone under the age of 21. The letter described "pervasive unwelcome verbal conduct" and found that Mr. Lopez verbally harassed, groped and kissed two of his staff members without their consent.





Over the next few days, The New York Times reported that Sheldon Silver, the Assembly speaker and one of the state's most powerful Democrats, authorized a secret payment of $103,080 in June to settle prior allegations against Mr. Lopez from two other women -- allegations that were never referred to the ethics committee. The settlement has sparked numerous calls for investigation into the Assembly's handling of the matter. Mr. Silver has conceded he made a mistake.