JANUARY 14, 2014 6:51 PM
(The answer to today's "Name That Party" quiz can be found here)
Ex-NY Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak's Accusers Release Graphic Sexual Harassment Evidence
The women who accused pervy Buffalo-area ex-Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak of sexual harassment aren’t letting him slink away quietly.
Our Glenn Blain reports:
An attorney for six of his seven accusers went public with evidence against the lawmaker Tuesday -- including a video they allege shows Gabryszak either masturbating or pretending to receive oral sex.
Lawyer John Bartolomei said the women wanted to refute claims Gabryszak made in his resignation statement Sunday. The ex-legislator said he took part in “mutual" banter that, while inappropriate, were not sexual harassment.
“He would have been much wiser to just resign and make no comment,” Bartolomei said in a statement.
The video which the women claim Gabryszak sent them shows the lawmaker -- from the shoulders up -- in what appears to be a bathroom stall. He grunts a few times and mutters, “Yeah" and "That's good” before leering, “Is this what you wanted?”
Other evidence released by the women include text messages from somebody dubbed “Gabba Dabba” saying “might want to lock you.lol,” and correcting himself to say “No I meant lick.”
There is also a screen grab of Gabryszak’s Facebook conversations referring to Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis of Staten Island as “Malliocockkiss.”
“We will not litigate this case in the media but this response is made necessary by reason of the absurdity of Mr. Gabryszak’s statement, which shows no remorse, acceptance of responsibility or connection to the reality of the circumstances,’ Bartolomei wrote in his statement.
Six women who formerly worked on Gabryszak’s staff and one current employee have filed court papers in the past month accusing the lawmaker of making unwanted advances, using sexually charged language and creating a hostile work environment.
The latest claim was filed last week by former communications director Kristy Mazurek, 43, who claimed Gabryszak wanted her and another female staffer to dress as sexy elves and sit on his lapin an office Christmas photo.
Other women claimed Gabryszak frequently asked them to attend strip clubs and massage parlors with him. One said he tried to kiss her.
Gabryszak, 62, on Sunday announced he would retire from the Assembly because of the impact the scandal was having on the Assembly and his family.
In his statement, Gabryszak insisted he never made or sought sexual contact with his staff members and claims that there were allegations made against him that were “demonstrably false.”
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) had referred the case against Gabryszak to the chamber’s ethics committee.
The state’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics has also launched an investigation.
The documents follow.
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