NYC Council Probes 4th Lawmaker For Possible Misconduct

NEW YORK — The City Council is now investigating four of its own members for possible misconduct. The Standards and Ethics Committee moved to open an inquiry Wednesday into an alleged violation of rules against "disorderly behavior."

"In executive session the Committee voted to open a matter and direct the Office of the General Counsel to conduct a preliminary inquiry," Councilman Steven Matteo (R-Staten Island), the committee's chairman, said in a statement.

The move came about a month after the five-member panel launched probes into allegations against three other members. Lawmakers have not said who or what is being investigated in any of the cases.

All of them involve Section 10.80 of the Council rules, which bars members from engaging in behavior such as fraud or violating the speaker's policies against "discrimination and harassment." A member found to have broken the rules could face punishment ranging from a reprimand or fine to expulsion from the Council.

Council Speaker Corey Johnson said he immediately refers any allegation of wrongdoing to the Standards and Ethics Committee. That's likely why the panel has been so busy lately, he said.

"Some of them may pan out where there could be punishment," Johnson, a Democrat, said. "... And some of them may mean nothing. But still we have to send it there so there's an investigation."