Investigators target Shelly Silver in Vito Lopez sex harass probe

ALBANY — State investigators are now going after Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver as they dig deeper into the Vito Lopez case.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics — which had been criticized for limiting its probe to allegations of sexual harassment made against Assemblyman Lopez — approved on Monday an expanded investigation that will include Silver’s handling of a $103,000 taxpayer-funded settlement with two victims, sources said.

Following a closed-door meeting of JCOPE’s board, Chairwoman Janet DiFiore announced its unanimous decision to launch a “substantial” probe. She refused to provide details, but a source said the panel would conduct a “sweeping investigation that will go where it leads.”

Silver confirmed the widening probe, and said he welcomes it.

Gov. Cuomo, who threatened to create his own commission with subpoena power to look into the settlement if JCOPE did not, defended Silver against charges he cut a secret deal.

“It wasn’t true and it wasn’t accurate,” Cuomo said on Albany radio, referring to that characterization. “It wasn’t a secret deal. It had a confidentiality (clause), but there was no secret deal by the speaker.”

But Kevin Mintzer, an attorney for two other Lopez accusers, said it’s time for Cuomo to stop defending Silver, who he believes should admit what the Assembly knew about Lopez’s actions.

“People concerned about the victims should be demanding answers to those questions,” Mintzer said.

JCOPE’s expanded probe was set in motion after several board members blasted media leaks and said it was incorrect to suggest that the watchdog was opposed to examining Silver’s role in the financial settlement.

“Nobody sat at this table attempting to block an investigation of anybody,” said Commissioner Marvin Jacob, who was appointed to JCOPE by Silver.

Jacob and a handful of other board members urged a public vote on the matter, but the move was rejected by other commission members who cited confidentiality provisions.

Lopez has vowed he will seek reelection this fall, but has said he won’t try to hold onto his post as head of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.

By Kenneth Lovett AND Glenn Blain / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS