May 16, 2013 — A New York prosecutor says he's found no crime after investigating sexual harassment allegations by female staff members of Assemblyman Vito Lopez, a Brooklyn Democrat.

But Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan said what he found was "alarming," and he admonished higher-level state officials who he said allowed Lopez's behavior through secret settlements and confidentiality.

Meanwhile, the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics found Lopez's actions violated the public trust.  Go to full article

May 13, 2013 — The state ethics commission report on the Assemblyman Vito Lopez sexual harassment scandal might finally be made public later this month.  Go to full article

Apr 17, 2013 — At the New York State Capitol, lawmakers are scrambling to put forward plans responding to the recent twin corruption scandals involving bribery charges against a state Senator and Assemblyman.

Tuesday it was the Assembly Democrats' turn to weigh in, while Gov. Andrew Cuomo rolled out two more components of his own reform plan.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Feb 15, 2013 — A government reform group is calling for a state ethics panel report to be made public, one day after the panel investigating charges against Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez sent a report to the legislative ethics committee.  Go to full article

Washington, DC, Feb 07, 2013 — The House Ethics Committee announced yesterday that it is extending its review of Congressman Bill Owens' controversial trip to Taiwan in 2011. The panel also released a preliminary report from investigators.

That probe found that the Democrat from Plattsburgh may have violated congressional guidelines by making a trip paid for by a foreign government.

Investigators are also calling for subpoenas to be issued in the next phase of the probe.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Sep 14, 2012 — The state's ethics board is coming under criticism as it launches an investigation that's believed to focus on a sexual harassment scandal in the Assembly. The secrecy rules governing the Joint Commission on Public Ethics are causing some unanticipated problems.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Sep 05, 2012 — The state's ethics board held a closed door meeting Tuesday, and JCOPE is believed to be discussing whether to investigate Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez, and possibly Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, over a sexual harassment scandal.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Aug 30, 2012 — A rare apology from one of New York's most powerful Democratic leaders regarding a payout to alleged victims of sexual harassment is raising even more questions at the state Capitol. Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says he "welcomes" an impending ethics probe.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Aug 28, 2012 — A government reform group is calling on the state ethics commission to investigate after the New York State Assembly announced that one of its members has been disciplined for sexual harassment, and a Senator is facing charges of misappropriating campaign funds and member items.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Aug 03, 2012 — Governor Cuomo continues to defend a decision by a state ethics board to keep secret the names of donors to a lobbying group that is a key ally of the governor. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article