Alleged Reason Behind Monserrate's Assault on GF

Supporters are trying to spin an explanation for State Senator-elect Hiram Monserrate's alleged assault of his girlfriend. The Daily News reports, "Sources say Monserrate backers have told people the outgoing city councilman was upset to discover drugs in girlfriend Karla Giraldo's purse after they attended the Queens Democratic Party's holiday dinner on Thursday."

The pair had allegedly argued over an "unidentified" object in Giraldo's purse, before Giraldo somehow ended up with a black eye and a gash that required 20 stitches to close (the criminal complaint says that Monserrate broke a glass and hit Giraldo; Monserrate says he tripped and fell).

A State Senate Democrat tells the News, "He has been making calls and saying, 'It's not what you hear; I'm innocent... Everyone's shocked. This is pretty bad, and everyone's being quiet about it, but I think most will not give him the benefit of the doubt." Indeed: CityRoom spoke to Monserrate's colleagues in the City Councilman (the ex-cop is leaving the Council for the State Senate) who all expressed surprise at the allegations and a desire to want the justice system to get to the bottom of the matter.

The Daily Politics pointed out that former Queens ADA Mortimer Lawrence—now counsel to State Senate Democratic leader Malcolm Smith—showed up at the police station where Monserrate was being held. Smith's spokesperson said Lawrence showed up "on his own volition" (and not because Smith told him to), apparently after reading it on the blogs but "didn't know what time Lawrence had arrived at the precinct, how long he was there and what, exactly he either thought he might do or actually did while he was on the scene."

And despite calls to step down, Monserrate still plans on heading to the Senate.

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By Jen Chung in News on December 22, 2008 3:43 PM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

I'd hit it.

...Oops! wrong thread.

holyfrjole

So not only is Monserrate abusive toward women (and no, finding drugs really isn't an excuse to slash someone's face), his judgment is so poor that he dates drug users.

Nice. Exactly the kind of person this city needs to sent to Albany.

Amanda Harletsch

so the spin blames the woman for the violence?

it is fair game?

God!

Snoopy

Ex cop? What an unusual outcome.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Jen C, drugs is no excuse to slash someone's face. He should have dump her or force her to rehab but not cut her up

Mr Mel

Jen, do you think that's what he found?

heycarrieann

Explain to me how one "accidently" gives someone a black eye and a slash that requires 20 stitches? A person would have to be really careful, and make sure not have their hand in a fist while carrying a broken glass to avoid ever having an "accident" like that.

Jen Chung

Is finding drugs in someone's purse reason to assault them?

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

@QM, but if it was an accident then you girl would inform the authorities such as. Monseratte's woman changed her story now. So it tells me that it wasn't any accident.

QM

Today, as I was cutting a slice of lemon for my girlfriends tea I came awfully close to slashing her across the face as I was pulling out the knife from the stand. Then we tried to imagine the comments that we would see on here if I did accidentally cut her and it ended up on the news or something. We figured nobody would believe it was an accident and that people would think I was an abusive boyfriend or something.

I'm not trying to say that maybe Monserrate is innocent or anything. I was just sharing something that made me think of this story.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Politicians should not be above the law but instead adhere to a stricter law since they are public servants, supposedly.