Governor Hochul calls on Ardila to resign
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Governor Kathy Hochul called on Queens Assemblymember Juan Ardila to resign following reports of sexual assault allegations made against the freshman Democratic lawmaker earlier this week. Photo via the governor’s office/Flickr
By Ryan Schwach
On Thursday, Governor Kathy Hochul joined local government officials in calling for Queens Assemblymember Juan Ardila to resign following reports of sexual assault allegations made earlier this week.
“I condemn all forms of sexual assault,” Hochul told reporters in Manhattan on Thursday. “It is intolerable and unacceptable what he did. I support the survivors in their call for accountability.”
“And yes, he should resign,” she added.
The video of her comments were reported by Spectrum News’ Zack Fink.
Hochul is now the highest-ranking elected official to call for Ardila’s resignation, joining several of his colleagues in state government, the New York City Council and his former boss, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.
Ardila came under fire this week after reports of the allegations appeared in the Queens Chronicle and the Eagle. The allegations come from two women who attended Fordham University at the same time as Ardila.
The two women, who remain anonymous, alleged that Ardila sexually assaulted them at a party in 2015, shortly after Ardila had graduated from the school.
Ardila was at a party in 2015 when he allegedly began groping a 21-year-old woman who was extremely intoxicated at the time, the woman told the Eagle. He then grabbed her and began to lead her to the bathroom before a friend of the woman intervened and pulled her away, the woman said.
Later that same evening, he led another intoxicated woman to the bathroom, where he pulled out his penis and allegedly began stroking it, an account of the incident shared with the Eagle shows.
Shortly after the incident, Ardila is believed to have left the party.
The next morning, he sent a message to the first victim asking if she’d like to meet up with him. In 2018, at the height of the Me Too Movement, Ardila sent a message to the first victim apologizing for his behavior.
The woman only recently discovered the message shortly after she moved to Queens, living close to the district where Ardila holds office.
The first victim called for his resignation earlier this week, a call that was echoed by a number of elected officials on Wednesday, two days after the allegations were first reported.
Ardila has not commented specifically on the calls for resignation.
Ardia initially denied the allegations when asked by the Chronicle, but later said in a statement that he apologized for his actions.
The following day, he issued a lengthier statement, in which he again apologized and said that he believes in restorative justice.
“I do understand that those who have experienced harm should determine if this kind of process is one they want to pursue and respect their decisions,” he said. “I believe in second chances and hope to be able to earn one with our community.”
Ardila and his staff have not responded to further requests for comment.
