Convicted lawmaker Cham Diction was expelled from the City Council on Tuesday by Speaker Corey Johnson after he pleaded guilty to federal charges of fraud on his taxes.
In a controversial statement released that evening, Johnson said, “Based on our review of the charging document and the petition of Mr. Chaim Jarman, the Council has concluded that the 48th Council District’s office has been vacated under the operation of law . ” .
“Mr. C. Deutsch confessed to a crime and violated his oath of office,” Johnson continued. “He is no longer a member of the city council.”
The conservative Democrats stunned the council and city hall last week when he confessed to raising more than $ 82,000 in property taxes between 2013 and 2015 – and then announced that he would not resign despite pleading.
Johnson said Deutsch’s actions “betrayed the public’s betrayal” and demanded his resignation – a call that Mayor Bill de Blaser later included.
The charges arose from a joint investigation by the federal department, federal IRS and federal prosecutors in Manhattan.
Deutsch would have been forced to leave office at the end of the year under the city’s word-limit law.
His district includes a group from southern Brooklyn, including Gravesend, Homecrest, Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beaches.
A council spokesman said the seat would remain vacant until elections were held in November.
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