“Today I am calling on Speaker Sheldon Silver to step aside and allow this legislative body to move forward without these ethical concerns hanging over us. I believe it is in the best interest of the Assembly and the people of New York State for the Speaker to resign his post immediately and allow us to move forward under new leadership with the important budget and policy work in front of us. Again, I am very proud of the ethical standards I have held to and which I will continue to practice, and I will be at the forefront of legislative efforts to increase ethical accountability and transparency of the lawmakers in whom the public places their trust.”