The New York City Council is delaying any discipline against a Queens councilman arrested as part of a political corruption probe.
Ruben Wills was charged last week with a dozen crimes, including scheming to defraud and grand larceny. Prosecutors say he stole thousands of dollars in state funds.
He did not enter a plea but later proclaimed his innocence.
The council’s standards and ethics committee decided Wednesday that it will not act against Wills until the completion of his legal proceedings.
Wills already agreed to give up his subcommittee chairmanship. He also lost his privileges to earmark money for pet projects in his district.
He has said he will not resign.
City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito has said she will not force him to quit the council.
(AP)
2 Responses
Well of course not. He’s a Democrat. They always circle the wagons for one of their own. If it was a Republican, he would of been in prison already.
Re comment no. 1: This guy is accused and arrested, but he has not yet been convicted, so it would likely be too soon to act.
And just to put the whole thing in perspective, remember when some Democrats in the State Assembly (or was it the State Senate, I’m not sure I’ve got all the facts right) joined the Republicans in return for some committee chairmanships that the Republicans promised them? The corruption is not unique to Democrats.