New York Assemblyman Resigns In the Midst Of Sexual Harassment Scandal . . . And Promptly Announces City Council Bid

New York Democratic Assemblyman Vito Lopez is the latest politician to resign in a scandal, but Lopez has a curious twist. He will now run for a new office. With Antony Weiner now committed to running for mayor, it is the new version of political responsibility. You resign and then run again as a new man.

Lopez resigned after it was revealed that the state secretly paid women (plural) $103,000 to settle sexual harassment claims against the powerful Brooklyn politician. The accounts detailed unwanted advances and contact by the 71-year-old assemblyman.

After Lopez announced his resignation, Gov. Cuomo declared “Vito Lopez should not spend another day in office, let alone a whole month. He should resign effective immediately.” He will resign today and then start his campaign for the City Council.

Donations have poured in to fund his new run for office.

That could result in a Lopez in the city council and a Weiner in the mayor’s office — giving hope to politicians everywhere that there is a place where no scandal is too great to overcome.

By the way, under the arcane rules in New York, Lopez might be able to pick his successor.