Assembly won’t be investigating lawmaker
ALBANY — Assemblyman Juan Ardila will likely not face any disciplinary action from within the Legislature after two women accused him of sexual misconduct eight years ago, Speaker Carl Heastie said Wednesday.
Heastie’s remarks came as a handful of lawmakers called for Ardila’s resignation following reports he made crude sexual overtures to two Queens women during a party in October 2015, more than seven years before he took office. Since Ardila was not in the Assembly at the time, the incidents will not be examined by the chamber’s Ethics Committee, Heastie said, though he called it “a serious allegation” and “totally unacceptable” while commending the women who came forward.
Ardila ran last year as a Democrat and was endorsed by the progressive Working Families Party.
The two women told The Queens Chronicle and other local outlets earlier this week that the alleged incidents occurred at a party for students and alumni of Fordham University, which they were attending at the time. Ardila had recently graduated.
The Chronicle reported that one of the women had been intoxicated when Ardila allegedly began touching her before leading her down the hallway, only to have a friend intervene.
The second woman alleged she had been pulled into a bathroom by Ardila, who proceeded to kiss her before exposing and touching himself.
Ardila said in a Tuesday statement on Twitter that he took responsibility for his actions and is “committed to a process of accountability.”
“I recognize that my role as a public servant requires transparency and trust. I made mistakes and I am not perfect,” Ardila said. “However, I am interested in and eager for a restorative justice-centered process so that we can heal and repair the damage done.”
After the story broke Tuesday, lawmakers began posting statements to social media calling for Ardila’s resignation, including U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasiocortez, who represents parts of Queens and had endorsed Ardila’s 2022 run.
“The Congresswoman believes he should step down,” her
spokesperson told the Chronicle.
Several state senators echoed that call, with Ardila’s fellow Queens Democrats Kristen Gonzalez, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris and Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani demanding his resignation. The senators said while they believe in restorative justice, they do not believe it can be carried out while Ardila still holds office.
“The accounts from the women who experienced sexual assault are harrowing and reveal indefensible actions — to which he has admitted,” the lawmakers’ statement read. Gianaris had also endorsed Ardila’s run.
Ardila was elected after the retirement of longtime Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan left the seat vacant. Nolan said on Tuesday that she had never endorsed Ardila in the first place because of a 2021 incident where old Facebook posts resurfaced in which he had used homophobic and anti-semitic slurs. She urged Ardila’s district to find a new representative.
Ardila’s Assembly bio touts an extensive public service record and his lifelong Queens residency. He was formerly a staffer for current New York City Comptroller Brad Lander while Lander served as a city councilman. Lander urged Ardila to resign in a statement of his own on Wednesday. He has also worked as a consultant for the city’s Department of Education and at the Legal Aid Society.
State Sen. Jessica Ramos, who also represents Queens and had endorsed Ardila, said that she was “extremely disappointed” but refrained from calling for his resignation. Ramos said Ardila “needs to work this out with his constituents.”
Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said in response to a reporter’s question that he didn’t have a comment on whether Ardila should resign.
“It seems like an unfortunate circumstance, and we’ll see how it plays out,” Barclay said.