The National Organization for Women of New York just released a statement announcing another women’s group is calling for Sen. Hiram Monserrate, D-Queens, to resign from office. The National Women’s Political Caucus of New York State has joined NOW, NARAL Pro-Choice New York, the New Agenda and the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee, according to Marcia Pappas, NOW’s state president.

   Monserrate was convicted last week on a misdemeanor assault charge in a domestic-violence case. He was not convicted on either of two felony counts, which would have resulted in an automatic loss of his seat. 

   The freshman senator maintained that he tripped while carrying a glass of water to his girlfriend and accidentally slashed her face with the broken glass. She required dozens of stitches. The misdemeanor conviction is for handling his girlfriend violently while getting her out of his building. He took her to a hospital.

   “The trial is over. The hope was that Hiram Monserrate would be convicted of the most serious felony charges and sent to jail. That didn’t happen,” Donna Lent, president of the National Women’s Political Caucus in New York, said in a statement.

   Senate Democrats and Republicans have appointed members to serve on a committee that will investigate Monserrate’s conduct. Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County, announced today that he is naming the following lawmakers to the panel: James Alesi of Perinton, Monroe County; Andrew Lanza of Staten Island; John Flanagan of Suffolk County; and Cathy Young of Olean, Cattaraugus County.

   Skelos has asked to appoint a fifth member—Betty Little of Queensbury, Warren County—so there would be an even number of Democrats and Republicans.

   Democratic senators on the committee are: Eric Schneiderman of Manhattan, who will be the chairman; Ruth Hassell-Thompson of Mount Vernon; Andrea Stewart-Cousins of Yonkers; Diane Savino of Staten Island; and Toby Stavisky of Queens. 

   Sen. Ruben Diaz, D-Bronx, has publicly defended Monserrate while a number of their Democratic colleagues have called for his resignation. U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are also asking Monserrate to step down.