State Sen. Hiram Monserrate may have had some inappropriate contact with his manhandled gal pal during his trial, according to a report.
After his arrest Monserrate was ordered not to have any interactions with girlfriend Karla Giraldo, directly or indirectly, but the Daily News today reports that one of Hiram's buddies provided "security" for Giraldo to and from court during the trial.
The paper says that Monserrate spokesman Mike Nieves admitted that Luis Castro, a "long time friend and sometime employee" of Monserrate often ushered Giraldo to and from the Queens courthouse where the senator was on trial for a Dec. 19 incident where he may or may not have intentionally smashed her in the face with a drinking glass.
Castro not only organized rallies of Monserrate supporters outside the court but was also "the liaison between Monserrate and Karla during the whole trial... He was in contact with Monserrate every day," a source told the News.
Castro had worked for Monserrate from 2002 August 2008, then on October 19, five days after the trial was over, was re-hired as a special assistant at $60,000 a year, according to the News.
These revelations raises questions as to whether Monserrate had any undue influence on Giraldo as she testified about the night when she needed to be taken to the hospital and given 20 for cuts to her face.
Monserrate (D-East Elmhurst) was convicted in October misdemeanor assault -- for treating Giraldo roughly as he took her to the hospital -- and faces up to a year in jail. But the senator was acquitted of more serious felony charges that could have automatically cost him his senate seat.
Local
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown's office said they were unaware that Giraldo's escorts were friends of Hiram
Meanwhile, Sonia Ossorio, president of the local chapter of the National Organization of woman told the News that prosecutors need to "examine the situation more thoroughly... He's a lawmaker and needs to be held to a higher standard."
