No criminal charges for Hiram
Prosecutors have ended an investigation into possible campaign impropriety by disgraced ex-lawmaker Hiram Monserrate without bringing any charges.
The Nassau County district attorney’s office was looking into conduct by workers for Monserrate’s failed 2020 bid to get back into the state Legislature.
A Queens woman had described a series of heated interactions with Monserrate staffers who allegedly wanted to handle the woman’s mother’s mail-in ballot and give her advice on how to vote.
Detectives with the Queens district attorney’s office interviewed the woman, Natalia Guzman, last summer. The case was later transferred to the Nassau County DA. Neither office would explain why.
“[The Nassau district attorney] was designated special prosecutor by the court on June 25, 2020. The matter was investigated and has been closed. No charges,” Brendan Brosh, a spokesman for the Nassau County DA’s office, said in a statement.
Guzman was not happy with the process.
“At this point, based on their lack of communication, I have lost much faith in the process,” she told the Daily News last week. “I do wish there was more transparency.”
In two other cases The News learned of last year, campaign staffers for Monserrate (photo) contacted other Queens residents and asked them to fill out mail-in ballot requests. Both of those individuals refused.
Monserrate did not immediately answer a request for comment on Monday.
His recent efforts to revive his political career have floundered. A new city law barring people with corruption convictions from running for office prevented him from getting public matching funds for his City Council run this year, though several of Monserrate’s donors have sued the city’s Campaign Finance Board on his behalf.
In 2009, Monserrate was found guilty of misdemeanor assault in an incident with his then-girlfriend. After being expelled from the state Senate, he pleaded guilty to federal charges related to misappropriating about $100,000 in funds earmarked for a local nonprofit.