Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver should resign his leadership post over his handling of the Vito Lopez sexual harassment scandal, Republican House candidate Joe Carvin said in a statement this morning.

“This is not the first time that the Speaker reportedly has worked behind closed doors to protect political colleagues from charges of sexual assault,” Mr. Carvin said. “What allegedly took place to protect Mr. Silver’s former counsel Michael Boxley from rape allegations was just as egregious. Mr. Silver has demonstrated a clear and unacceptable pattern of secrecy in these matters, and a stunning disregard for victims of sexual assault. This is unacceptable behavior from the third most powerful politician in state government.”

Carvin is running against Westchester County Rep. Nita Lowey.

Silver told reporters yesterday that he asked Lopez, a longtime Brooklyn power broker, to resign, but was rebuffed.

Silver has said he regrets his handling of the case, which includes authorizing more than $100,000 in settlement money to women who said they were groped and harassed by Lopez.

Silver will keep his prominent job here at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte as the leader of the New York Democratic delegation.

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