Embattled Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance faced a new call for his resignation Thursday over charges that his office has repeatedly mishandled sex assault allegations — this time from New York’s dozen city councilwomen.
“After serious reflection, we believe it is time for DA Vance to resign,” the City Council’s Women’s Caucus — which includes all 12 of the body’s female lawmakers — said in a joint statement. “Under DA Vance’s leadership, the Manhattan DA’s office, and specifically their Sex Crimes Unit and Special Victims Bureau, failed to protect and fight for survivors against rich, white, and powerful men who committed countless sexual assaults.”
The caucus’ statement specifically singles out Vance’s handling of high-profile sex misconduct allegations against high-profile defendants, including Jeffery Epstein and Harvey Weinstein.
Vance’s office recommended that a judge go easy on Epstein, a notorious pedophile, by supporting his bid for lighter restrictions on his sex offender status.
And Vance initially failed to prosecute Weinstein in 2015 for groping a model, even though cops caught the mogul seemingly admitting to the crime on tape.
He later reversed course and his office prosecuting the fallen producer for rape in a trial that is currently underway.
Vance was first elected in 2009 and has not yet said if he will seek reelection to a fourth term in 2021.
Thursday’s statement provides new evidence of the stiff and powerful opposition he will face if he does run again.
The caucus includes some of the most prominent women in city politics — including the council’s majority leader Laurie Cumbo (D-Brooklyn) — and is co-chaired by two Manhattan councilwomen, Carlina Rivera and Margaret Chin.
Their demand that Vance quit comes two weeks after a group of sex-assault survivors demanded his resignation, citing the same shortcomings.
“Earlier this week we invited the Women’s Caucus to come in, discuss their concerns, and learn more about our work,” said Manhattan DA spokesman Danny Frost. “We hope they take us up on it.”
Additional reporting by Rebecca Rosenberg