Democrats’ Own ‘George Santos’

Looks like New York Democrats have their own version of GOP Rep. George Santos: Queens Assemblyman Juan Ardila. No, Ardila, a protegé of city Comptroller Brad Lander, isn’t accused of telling whoppers like Santos. But a whole lot of Democrats are wishing he’d been better vetted.

The latest blow: Two women now say Ardila sexually assaulted them at a 2015 party.

One says Ardila “started getting physical” with her on a couch while she was drunk, then tried to pull her into a bathroom. Another victim allegedly claims he forcibly kissed her in the bathroom and began “stroking himself ” at that same party. Ardila doesn’t deny the allegations. Yes, the party was eight years ago, but Democrats sought to block Justice Brett Kavanaugh on similar allegations four decades after the fact when he fiercely denied the charges.

Plus: As a teen, Ardila posted derogatory comments online about Asians, gays, women and Jews and used words like “bitch,” “c – – t” and the N-word. As an adult, he racked up 28 traffic/parking violations in 2019-’22, including parking at fire hydrants and in crosswalks and speeding in school zones.

Ardila won countless progressive endorsements, including from Lander, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, state Sen. Mike Gianaris, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and outfits like the Working Families Party.

City Councilman Robert Holden, who beat Ardila in a 2021 primary challenge, this week urged them all to take back those endorsements and demand the assemblyman step down — and many have stampeded to do so.

This follows Gov. Hochul’s naming Rep. Brian Benjamin as her lieutenant gov last year, shortly before his federal indictment. Have the players in New York politics just forgotten what vetting means?