They say the coverup is worse than the crime. Shelly Silver sure found that out. And now those who back him are finding that covering for the man who covered up may be worst of all.
In the latest fallout from Silver’s coverup of Vito Lopez’s sexual harassment, the Assembly speaker now faces a lawsuit saying that he should refund from his own pocket the $103,000 he took from taxpayers to keep two early Lopez victims quiet.
That guarantees more embarrassment, no matter which way the case goes. And not just for him. Consider:
* The New York state head of the National Organization for Women calls for Silver’s resignation, while the city chapter remains silent in the hopes that Silver will shepherd through Gov. Cuomo’s “Women’s Equality Act.”
* During the unveiling of that legislation, Cuomo and women’s leaders are peppered with questions about Silver’s status.
* Assemblywoman Deborah Glick — chief sponsor of rape-definition legislation — remains a key Silver ally and refuses to criticize his actions.
* US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand — a major critic of how the US military chain of command deals with sexual assault — expresses “anger” and “disappointment” at Silver’s actions, but says questions of his keeping his post is an Assembly matter.
Try as they might, those in positions of leadership and influence will not escape the taint of Shelly Silver as long as he remains Speaker. How long before someone realizes the obvious: he’s not worth it?