Suozzi Slams Spitzer for Shelly's Rape Bill Sellout

Suozzi Slams Spitzer for Shelly's Rape Bill Sellout

Calls on AG to Choose Sides on Sex Offender Legislation

Democratic candidate for Governor Tom Suozzi today called on his opponent, Eliot Spitzer, to break his silence and take a stand on the sex offender bill that top Spitzer backer Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is blocking.

"Once again, Eliot Spitzer is missing in Albany, standing silent on the sidelines while his strongest political supporter, Shelly Silver, is gumming up the works, double-crossing women around our state, and disrespecting our democracy. If that's Eliot's idea of leadership and reform, no wonder every Albany insider and lobbyist is behind his campaign," said Suozzi.

"Shelly Silver is cheating the public interest to please a special interest-in this case, sabotaging a critical piece of legislation with broad bipartisan support to throw a bone to his trial lawyer friends," Suozzi added.

Silver has been widely criticized by political leaders of both parties-including Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau-and women's groups for holding up legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions of serious sex crimes, by insisting on adding a provision to eliminate the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits in the same kind of cases.

"I fully support this bill as is and oppose any efforts to weigh it down with poison pill provisions like the one Shelly is pushing. We must hold rapists accountable and protect people, not protect the Speaker's political friends," said Suozzi.

"Now it's time for Eliot Spitzer, who just happens to be the State's top legal officer, to choose sides. Is he going to show some leadership and stand with the people he was elected to represent, or is he going to continue to follow his Albany benefactor Shelly Silver and stand with his special interest supporters?"

http://tomsuozzi.com/announcements/pr_051806/