Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos this afternoon called for an investigation of the Assembly’s involvement in the ongoing Vito Lopez sexual harassment scandal.

“I join with Speaker Silver in calling for a thorough investigation of the Assembly’s handling of the matter involving Vito Lopez, and urge all of the members of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics to support a full inquiry,” Seklos said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Gov. Andrew Cuomo took to former Gov. David Paterson’s radio show and made a veiled swipe at Senate Minority Leader John Sampson, a fellow Democrat, over the appointment of the always colorful Ravi Batra to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics.

Cuomo said the responsbility for appointees ultimately lies with whoever gave them the job.

“It’s a reflection on the appointing authority,” Cuomo said. “The behavior of an appointee is not something you’re proud of that’s a reflection of you.”

Meanwhile, Batra, in a long-winded statement CC’d to the Albany press corp, wrote that he plans to resign on Monday, the day JCOPE plans to meet.

“I expect to resign,” Batra wrote.

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