Silver’s “former chief of staff, Judy Rapfogel, worked for a time for Mr. Kushner’s [] company.”

This clemency mess is support that govt corruption is inseparable from sexual harassment.

When she was Shelly’s COS, I met w/ Judy after I reported Vito Lopez’ harassment.
(1/?) https://twitter.com/maggienyt/status/1351311857823444993

Judy told me not to tell anyone about the harassment. The exact opposite response if you care to end harassment under Shelly’s leadership.

This was in the Speaker’s office, as mediation was underway. I was given a temp position.

One other Silver staffer was in that room. (2/?)

The other in the room was Jim Yates—then a Speaker’s office lawyer—agreeing that if anyone asked why I was in the temp position, not to tell.

Again, a pretty horrific view for gov transparency.

Yates is a current JCOPE commissioner (a body not known for transparency).

(3/?)

A cover up is a cover up.

And Rapfogel and Yates showed long ago their willingness to cover up in order to protect a corrupt boss.

They placed this above their duty to the people of NYS.

(4/?)

It’s inexcusable (& illegal) to try to silence a harassment victim from telling her coworkers. It’s also one face of government corruption.

Govt staff are govt resources, and staff is not there to be sexually harassed.

(5/?)

Feeling disappointed that the same anti-victim, corrupt cast of characters keeps popping up. Incredulous that one is now on JCOPE. (6/?)

And JCOPE is clearly not properly equipped to responsibly handle sexual harassment claims related to public corruption.

It’s not transparent. The appointment process bakes in the most insidious anti-victim bias. It’s not trauma-informed. Ppl like Yates are commissioners.

(7/?)

Anyway, not surprised to see a Silver-Rapfogel connection being used to skate away from consequence. They’ve been here before.
(8/8)