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Did This Senator Beat Up His Girlfriend?
Mike Groll / AP Photo
A New York state senator faces felony charges for allegedly slashing his girlfriend’s face—and some of the assault was caught on camera. So why is he still welcome in the state senate—and why are Democrats still holding fundraisers for him?
Which is worse: political leaders remaining silent about a colleague who slashes his girlfriend’s face, or political leaders actively funding and supporting the criminal slasher? Well, in the Empire State, we have both!
In the past few months, our country has witnessed two high-profile cases of violence against women—Chris Brown’s alleged assault of Rihanna and the beheading of Aasiya Hassan. In the aftermath, advocates for reducing domestic violence saw a ray of hope: Could our country finally start a much-needed dialogue about violence against women, bring it into the light of day, and work toward solutions? When New York State Senator Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) was indicted and arraigned last week on six counts of assault for allegedly beating up his girlfriend, we stepped back into the darkness.
At least four security cameras in the Jackson Heights apartment building where the incident allegedly occurred caught parts of the attack on tape.
Members of the Democratic Party should have demanded that Monserrate step down immediately. Instead, not only have the Democrats in the New York State Senate stayed silent, they are also working to establish a legal defense fund for Monserrate.
Violence against women is wrong. It’s a despicable crime. Criminals who hurt women should be punished. So why is New York, purported state of enlightenment and sophistication, being so cowardly? Where is the national outrage?
As with many perpetrators of violence, Hiram Monserrate’s indictment did not come without warning. Monserrate has a history of mental-health problems. In 1999, he claimed to be suffering psychological problems as a New York City Police Department officer, writing: "I suffer with adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder." After an assessment by the NYPD’s psychological-services unit, Monserrate was forced to relinquish his gun. In 2001, trouble continued when Monserrate was arrested after allegedly using his car to run over the leg of a tow-truck operator who was attempting to tow away his car; the charges were later dropped.
Hiram Monserrate’s alleged assault of his girlfriend in December 2008 is a familiar tune. Man beats up woman in a jealous rage. Woman goes to hospital. Woman tells police that her intimate partner did this to her. Man is arrested. Woman recants statement, says it was an accident. Woman tries to drop charges.
But there was a difference this time: At least four security cameras in the Jackson Heights apartment building where the incident allegedly occurred caught parts of the attack on tape. The cameras recorded Monserrate in the second-floor hallway outside his apartment, allegedly yelling at his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo, about having another man’s police card, then throwing the card and his girlfriend’s handbag down the trash chute. Cameras then show Monserrate pulling his girlfriend down the stairs. Another camera recorded the girlfriend frantically knocking on her neighbor’s door. Finally, a camera recorded Monserrate grabbing his girlfriend’s arm and dragging her out of the apartment building as she tries to hold on to the door. At the hospital, Monserrate's girlfriend was given 20 to 25 stitches above the eye for a slash made by broken glass. (Davidson Goldin, a spokesperson for the senator, says both have since called it an accident.)
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Thank you Amy Siskind for bringing this important story to light. I am utterly shocked.
I'll be spending the day doing more research into the details and sending hasty, nasty emails to everyone involved.
How did this guy get elected in the first place? Was his questionable past not looked into?
And surprise, surprise... a former cop. As with politicians, those who want to police should NEVER be Police. Power corrupts every time, especially to those who seek it out. Anyone who wants to be a cop should never, never, never be a cop (and the same with policy makers).
Wow... he's a former cop? Go figure...
What a bunch of spineless cowards the members of the New York State Legislature are. But it is no surprise to hear that politics trumps women's rights. Wasn't that idea reinforced during our recent presidential primaries?
Women of the United States, we make up more than half of the electorate in this country! Individuals like Monserrate belong in jail, not in elected office!
Absolutely Pathetic. Thankfully we have people who care enough to actively pursue a solution to the problem. Forgive them Lord, they do know what they do, but they are BEASTS!
what has happened to the Democrats? This was supposed to be the party that represents women!! And they're raising money for this sleazeball's legal defense? That't the last straw. After the way that the Democrats spewed sexist venom during the campaign and now this garbage, I'm done forever with Democrats. They can rot!!!!
I can't believe he is allowed to stay in office! Why is beating a woman up a partisan issue? I don't care what party he is in, he has to go. Now Dem Senators are helping him raise money for legal fees? Don't they understand how bad that makes them look? Everyone is always talking about reaching across the aisle and working together, I'd like to see them start with getting rid of this guy. How could any of the Senators justify being on his side? Who is on the victim's side? Thanks for drawing attention to this situation. It's disgusting.
This is horrifying. Why didn't I know about it? Was it in The NY Times? Granted, I haven't read it in a few days. I know the Beast isn't an advocacy group, but I think it would be reasonable to provide links for those of us who live in the state to send our grievances (or support, for those who wish to support abuse) on to our elected officials.
The New Agenda's work to date on the Monserrate story can be found here: http://thenewagenda.net/2009/03/31/the-facts-on-hiram-monserrate-%E2%80%94- his-history-of-mental-health-problems-his-indictment-for-the-felony-assault -of-girlfriend-karla-giraldo-and-his-continued-role-as-a-ny-state-senator/
I don't think violence against women is any worse then violence against men. (The sexist issue is just dumb.) That said, things like this... what do you say. Could he be any more Hollywood cliche'? Why would she go out with him? How did he get elected? Why isn't he in jail?
Somebody... let me know!
It is shocking. Makes one wonder... "So why is New York, purported state of enlightenment and sophistication, being so cowardly?" What is the real agenda of the NY Democrats?
Why would Democrats raise money for such an obvious problem? Where is the moral outrage?
Oh well...just a little domestic disagreement? He's a SLASHER.
The house and senate are full of guys like this. They get elected because we vote for them without knowing anything about them and because we usually have just two choices - bad and worse. Don't you ever wonder why the world is so screwed up? With few exceptions, the people in power are interested in one thing only - THEMSELVES!
Well, at least he isn't a tax cheat, right? Oh wait, that gets ignored as well. I guess that once these guys are on the team, they get a pass - regardless of how obviously criminal they are.
"I don't think violence against women is any worse then violence against men. (The sexist issue is just dumb.)"
Hey, Hawnzz - what are the statistics on women being hospitalized and/or murdered by their intimate partners, vs. men being hospitalized and/or murdered by their domestic partners?
Are they about the same, d'ya think?
Of course the Dems raise money for him. This ain't about being lewd and crude. This is about power! Criminals love being in control and having power over others. Do you think it's going to get any better with the dumming down of the voter base?
@Kirbonicus, I don't understand your logic, I would hope that every cop actually wants to be a cop. Or is that why we have so many angry cops whining about a job they signed up for, because they pick the ones who don't want to be cops?
What kind of miscreant beats his girlfriend and then slashed her face? The fact that he has had mental health problems is almost irrelevant. Most of people who experience mental health problem are not violent.
This is unbelievably tone-deaf politics on the part of New York democratic elected officials. But beyond that, what does it say about their values? Certainly their behavior indicates that they don't value the safety and lives of their constituents who are women. Where is Gov. David Patterson's voice of condemnation, for example?
The people of this country will no longer tolerate this kind of behavior. People who are violent and abusive must be confronted legally and especially socially with the unacceptable nature of their violent acts and deal with with consequences.
Thanks to the Daily Beast for bringing this issue to the forefront. It's one of the reasons I read it daily.
SherylRobinson
You already know the answer and so do I. Maybe you misunderstood my point... the act is equally insidious. (regardless of the persons genitals)
Hawnzz, I saw no mention of violence against men in the article. We're talking specifically about a NY State lawmaker up on felony charges for cutting his girlfriend's face, and more generally about violence against women.
What I hear over and over again when the issue of violence against women is brought up is how it's just as bad for men, in one way or another. The simple fact of the matter is, it's not, and the comment that it is is betrays an agenda to minimize the issue at hand: violence against women.
@vboone
ANYONE who thinks they know better than EVERYONE else... one who thinks THEY should be the arbiter of 'good morals'... one who feels they have a RIGHT to determine who lives and dies, is free or locked up, lives a rightous or condemed life... ANYONE like this should NEVER be in ANY position of power.
But bow before them, they can do no wrong... until they do.
Hawnzz:
The statistics would seem to undermine your assertion that "the sexist issue is just dumb." The fact is that we, as a society, are still dealing with the legacy of centuries of treating women as less than human objects, not worthy of the law's full protection. Yes, hurting someone is despicable, regardless of their gender. But that simple, unassailable statement does not address the reality that women worldwide are at a much higher risk of being assaulted this way. Sexist attitudes towards women play an important part in that disparity. Changing those attitudes will help reduce violence against women. So no, it's not dumb.
Well, I hope everyone forwards this article to everyone they know in NYC and to all the papers in NYC demanding they cover this story.
Its time domestic violence is treated with the seriousness it deserves. As a comment stated, half the electorate is female. If women make sure this story stays in the headlines when election time comes, it may finally teach the power brokers in politics that they can't get away with treating women's issues as inconsequential in the scheme of things.
There is nothing in politics worse than a miscreant who is embraced by his fellow politicians. But it isn't anything rare.
Maybe this guy could room with Bernie in prison.
"the New York Legislature has now become a hostile work environment because Monserrate has been allowed to stay."
See, this is the sort of ridiculous horseshit that undermines a good cause. When you equate "being in the same building as someone I don't like" with getting beaten and slashed with broken glass, you make it easy for people to treat the latter as if it were as inconsequential as the former.
Rocket88- I'm guessing you don't get it because you are a man - I'm not disparaging men at all - but can you understand that women might be honestly uncomfortable being around this man? I get that you think that's silly, but I really would be very afraid of him. I think it is different for men, because as least you could make a fight out of it. But most women would admit that if almost any man wanted to attack them it is unlikely the woman would win a physical fight. You can't imagine how being in that position might change your opinion. I'm not being melodramatic, I would be afraid of him.
Thank you.
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