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Quinn Blasts Vito Lopez For 'Arrogant,' 'Outrageous' Run For City Council

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and other female elected officials gathered at City Hall Thursday evening for a women-for-Reynoso rally.

Antonio Reynoso is running for a Brooklyn City Council seat against disgraced former State Assemblyman Vito Lopez.

Quinn went after the scandal-scarred Lopez.

Quinn Blasts Vito Lopez For 'Arrogant,' 'Outrageous' Run For City Council

"As it relates to Vito Lopez, my advice is to cease and desist and do it now. This is not only a fool's errand, it is an outrage and a complete show of arrogance. This is outrageous. You are continuing your clear disregard for women of this city by even thinking of running for City Council," Quinn said at the rally.

Lopez resigned this week just as the legislative body was preparing to formally expel him. The onetime powerful political leader was accused of sexually harassing female staffers.

To Lopez, Quinn said "quit while you're behind."

Former Congresswoman and ex-Brooklyn District Attorney Elizabeth Holtzman voiced a similar condemnation of Lopez's candidacy.

"Enough is enough. We cannot tolerate the mistreatment of young women, interns, older women," Holtzman said. "And we have to send a very strong message to all elected officials, you've got to do the right thing or we're going to make sure that you get out."

Last week, a state ethics report looking into accusations of sexual harassment at the hands of Lopez found the embattled assemblyman did not violate any laws. A special prosecutor found "alarming" actions by Lopez, but no crime.

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