Ruben Diaz Sr Apologizes, Sort Of, After Sex Harassment Flap

NEW YORK — City Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. issued an apology of sorts Thursday after drawing fire for his reported comments about sexual harassment.

The controversial Bronx Democrat exclaimed during a closed-door sensitivity training session on Wednesday that he would not become a "rat" if he observed sexual harassment in the Council's offices, according to news reports.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and other elected officials swiftly condemned Diaz's remarks after the New York Daily News first reported them Wednesday. Diaz — who is also running for Congress — apologized in a statement Thursday afternoon, but said the ordeal in the meeting had been "distorted."

"I apologize to any and all women or men who may, because of the way I have been misrepresented, have misguided concerns about my behavior in this coordinated campaign against me by people who are distorting facts and trying hard to get me out of the New York City Council," Diaz said in the statement.

The ordeal follows Diaz's inflammatory claim that the "homosexual community" controls most Council members, which led lawmakers to dissolve the For-Hire Vehicles Committee that he chaired in February. The following month, Diaz sent out an email essay warning readers to "refrain from complimenting anyone" lest they be "charged with 'sexual harassment.'"

In his Thursday statement, Diaz said he has always addressed sexual harassment in cases when he has sensed that a woman felt discomfort. But he maintained that he will not tell on anyone who pays an innocent compliment.

"I did express that I will not report any person who gives a compliment to a lady or a man, in the same way that I will not report any of my colleagues who compliment me about how good I look in my hat," said Diaz, who is often seen wearing a cowboy hat.

Diaz's reported stance against snitching came as two of his colleagues, Councilmen Barry Grodenchik and Andy King, face disciplinary proceedings over alleged sexual harassment.

Council Speaker Corey Johnson told Diaz during the training session that lawmakers have a "responsibility to protect people from sexual harassment," the Daily News reported. De Blasio called his remarks "dangerous and disgraceful," while state Sen. Liz Krueger derided Diaz as "despicable."

"The only 'rats' in this situation are the people using their power to prey on others and the ones covering it up," Krueger said in a Twitter post.