Freshman Assemblyman Juan Ardila, who represents western Queens, faced political fallout Tuesday after being accused of sexual assault by two women—allegations that the lawmaker did not refute when asked for comment.
Ardila, who first took office in January after winning a vacant 37th District assembly seat last year, allegedly targeted two women at a party in October 2015. The party took place inside a Manhattan apartment and was attended by Fordham University students and alumni.
One of the victims, who reached out to Queens Post and requested anonymity, said that Ardila “got physical” with her – and was “touching her” — while she was drunk on a couch at the party. The woman, who was 21 at the time, said Ardila then tried to drag her into the bathroom before a friend intervened.
Meanwhile, another woman that night provided a statement saying that Ardila pulled her into the bathroom a short time later, before exposing himself and then groping her. The woman allegedly then ran out of the bathroom.
The women were both seniors at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus at the time of the party. Ardila had graduated from the university in the spring and had just started working for Brad Lander, who was a councilmember at the time. Neither woman had ever spoken to Ardila prior to the night of the party.
Ardila, who was endorsed by progressives such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and State Sen. Jessica Ramos in his race last year, issued a statement late last night expressing regret for his actions. The statement came shortly after he told the Queens Chronicle that he had no knowledge of the alleged incidents.
“I apologize for my behavior,” Ardila said in his statement. “I have spent time reflecting and I hope to prove that I have matured since college. I’m committed to learning from this and I am able to demonstrate my own personal growth.”
But the victim who contacted Queens Post wasn’t buying Ardila’s statement after it was read to her.
“I find Juan’s statement to be deeply troubling and dismissive of the harm he has caused me and others. His apology—which comes on the heels of his initial denial—rings insincere,” she said. “He blames the assault on youthful indiscretion during college (although he had graduated at the time of the incident) and I find this both dismissive and insulting. Sexual assault is a serious crime, and it is not something that can be excused or explained away by age or circumstances.”
The woman, who moved to Long Island City last month, said that she only decided to go public with her ordeal when she discovered that Ardila was an assemblymember—and the one who represented her area.
“The public deserves to know about his past,” she said, noting that she has reached out to several local news outlets about the incident.
While Queens Assemblyman Juan Ardila acknowledged and apologized for sexually assaulting two women at a party in 2015, one of his alleged victims now demands that he step down.
“I am calling for Juan Ardila to resign as an Assembly member and would like to see the organizations and elected officials who have publicly supported Juan retract their support,” the woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Queens Post Tuesday afternoon.
Some elected officials and community leaders called for an investigation into Ardila, while others demanded his resignation and asked those who previously endorsed him to withdraw their support.
These announcements come one day after news broke that Ardila allegedly sexually assaulted two women at a Manhattan party held by Fordham University students nearly eight years ago. One victim said he inappropriately touched her and tried to lead her into the bathroom before a friend intervened, while another said he groped her. Both requested to be anonymous.
Ardila, who issued an apology following the allegations, was elected last year to represent the 37th assembly district covering western Queens, taking over a seat that was left vacant by Cathy Nolan.
Among those who endorsed Ardila during his campaign last year were Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez; Comptroller Brad Lander; Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; state Senators Michael Gianaris and Jessica Ramos; Council member Tiffany Cabán, the Working Families Party and many others.
Councilman Robert Holden, a former opponent of Ardila’s when campaigning for City Council in 2021, was the first elected leader to come out today to demand his resignation. He also called on those who had endorsed him to retract them.
“Juan Ardila’s record of racism, xenophobia, homophobia, antisemitism, reckless driving, and now sexual assault has disqualified him from office,” Holden said in a statement. “His actions are reprehensible and unacceptable, and they should be disavowed at all costs by elected officials, like [Queens Borough President] Donovan Richards, unions, and other groups. Sexual assault must never be tolerated.”
Richards responded, saying the allegations against Ardila are “deeply troubling and require a full and thorough investigation.”
“If these disturbing accusations against him are found to be true, Assemblymember Ardila should resign,” Richards said in a statement to Queens Post. “Trust in government cannot be possible without accountability from all who have been elected to lead our communities.”
A spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told Queens Post the congresswoman believes Ardila should step down.
“We will be withdrawing his Courage to Change PAC endorsement, which was issued for his 2022 campaign,” the spokesperson said.
41 comments:
Well that’s the very big difference between the Democrats and the Putinists. A Putinist or TrumpTurd would never admit any wrongdoing. They would never be asked to resign for something like this. They’d pull the usual stunt and ask their fake God for forgiveness. Then carry on as if nothing happened.
Or double down like TrumpTurd itself.
"“deeply troubling and require a full and thorough investigation.”
is demspeak for we'll do nothing about it at all
Law and Order applies to all Americans.
Dennis Gallagher was arrested and jailed for much less. Whats Juan Facing?
Uh huh. Right. And some will probably blame rape victims for wearing short skirts.
Didn't he and his far-left Marxist colleagues all vote to Defund the NYPD ?
And we thought George Santos was bad !
Lol Kitra , so it’s ok if he admitted doing it you see no issue lol. They are more allegations coming
#1 Anon Can read minds when her/she/he feelings are hurt ! One of the most common experiences that hurts one's feelings is rejection.
Anonymous Kitara said...
Well that’s the very big difference between the Democrats and the Putinists
The Democrats 'logic' goes something like this (Who?/Whom?):
Juan Ardila, a person of color, allegedly sexually assaulted two women.
Democrats ask: What race were the women who were allegedly sexually assaulted?
They were White?
What's the problem?
Alas, this will prove to be the tip of the iceberg, if they REALLY investigate this scumbag...
Progressive women are the best! They speak of all the equal justice platitudes in public and let men abuse them in private!
@"And we thought George Santos was bad ! "
And he is bad, as this Juan guy, but not nearly as bad as a Trump voter.
"is demspeak for we'll do nothing about it at all"
The dems have already done infinitely more than the republicans ever would. Both sides have their bad apples, why is it we only ever hear of the democrats holding theirs accountable?
Juanito, is that an enchilada in your pantalones or usted just happy to see me?
Dems Just Got CAUGHT in Massive Banking SCANDAL!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A8-0JXbhWo&ab_channel=Dr.SteveTurley
I hear this almost every day. Democrats caught doing this or that, yet none of them ever go to jail or are held accountable....
How did we allow our leaders to get this corrupt, it's disgusting and regrettable.
Another DemOrAt Caught in a sex scandle, yet no one has the nuts to prosecute. I'm sick of this.
The REAL scandal is that NOTHING will happen to these creeps.
"Exposed" might be a better word. "Caught" means there will be consequences.
Let the sun shine in on the Wokies !
Fake news. This never happened. Just another witch hunt by liberal media.
I wonder did he make a move on AOC? She's still super hot. Especially when she makes the Republicans look so dumb at those congressional hearings.
You go girl...
If he were smart he would move to San Francisco and apply for his reparations check.
"Eewww!"
wHAT A niCe CoUple !
I wonder if his family were persecuted by the Nazis back in Germany, if he was a star volleyball player, if he conned any homeless veterans out of money to save his dog, wrote checks with stolen checkbooks like the "tough on crime Republican" George Santos?
I wonder if he had to pay off any hookers to keep them quiet, groped any women in airplanes or elevators, kissed the ass of dictators and tyrants around the world, tried to overturn democracy, incited a riot that led directly to the death and injury of cops, or lied about election results, or lied pretty much every time he opened his mouth like TrumpTurd does?
The "Tough On Crime", and folksy "Family Valyas" "God Fearin" republicans sure have a strange sense of morality. Or actually no morality at all, just like their voters.
Juan Ardila is finished as a Democrat. If he was a Republican, he'd be a rising star.
Sad ...
TrumpTurds have nobody as hot as AOC.
Prove me Wrong…
TrumpTurds have nobody as hot as AOC.
Prove me Wrong…
Byeeee racista de mierda
Here in the Great Free Swamp of Florida, he’d be doing his cousins too, and no one would mind.
Demspeak for speaking the truth.
Speaking of crimes....
Here’s how the $3 million from China was distributed, according to Rep Comer.
James Gilliar: $1,065,000
John “Rob” Walker: $869,308
Hunter Biden: $610,692
James Biden: $360,000
Hallie Biden: $25,000
Unknown Biden: $70,000 ???
"Law and Order applies to all Americans"
Wrong, not even close. Bragg will reduced Juan's sex charges to jaywalking, he is devoting all his time to Trump and has no time for these distractions.
When you consider all the dumb QAnon bimbos like Lauren Boebert and MGT, we are very lucky to have AOC here in New York.
Demspeak said ...
Are da walls still closing in ?
To all the wokies said...
"Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed."
- Freidrich Nietzsche
So glade I live in a gated community !
I've heard that you get the government you deserve.
But he's an oppressed minority. How could you? His mama fed him paint chips for breakfast in the projects. He's black he's brown he's Spanish. He's anything but white so Juan won't be held accountable. Those gold diggers asked for it is what he will say.
Working Families Party. What could possibly go wrong?
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