Women's Organizations Call on Ethics Commission to Investigate Vito Lopez

Common Cause and National Organization of Women-New York City filed a complaint on Wednesday urging the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics to investigate embattled Assemblyman Vito Lopez's past conduct and look into whether his current and former staff had any knowledge of harassment. That includes Councilman Steve Levin, who served as Lopez's chief of staff from 2006 to 2009. Good government groups want to find out what Levin knew and when he knew it, though Levin told the Post that no instances of sexual harassment occurred when he worked as Lopez's staffer. But one political insider wonders that it's "hard to believe that [Levin] never knew about the recent sexual harassment allegations given that Steve talks to Vito everyday and remains loyal to him even now."  JCOPE is currently investigating Lopez's sexual harassment claims and the Assembly's handling of a recent $103,080 taxpayer-funded settlement. Levin did not return calls requesting comment. To read more from City & State [click here. ](http://www.cityandstateny.com)