Assemblyman Peter Abbate Jr. (D-Bensonhurst, Sunset Park, Borough Park, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights) yesterday fired his top legislative director after he was charged with sexually assaulting an 18-year-old female and other unlawful conduct to a 16-year-old male in upstate Albany County.
Joseph P. Brady, 40, worked for Abbate and for former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, was reportedly paid $118,000, and is being held on $50,000 bail at the Albany County Correctional Facility after Watervliet Police Detectives arrested him and charged him with the felony crimes on Saturday, October 24.
“Upon hearing the news yesterday, Joseph Brady’s position in my office has been terminated, effective immediately. This disturbing news is a shock and has completely broken the trust I had in my staff member. This behavior is inexcusable and he should be held accountable,” said Abbate.
Abbate, 71, was first elected in 1986 and will become the second-longest serving Brooklyn lawmaker in January after Assemblyman Joe Lentol (D-Greenpoint, Williamsburg), who was defeated in the recent Democratic Primary, steps down. He currently chairs the Assembly’s Governmental Employees Committee.
The teenage couple had been reportedly living with Brady. The teenage male was sent out to buy drugs, and then “fled the residence” with his girlfriend to find help after the alleged sexual assault. Brady allegedly confronted them in an alley outside where he displayed what appeared to be a gun. Brady is also reportedly a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter with a criminal history, “that includes a 2019 arrest in Ohio for drug possession and carrying a concealed weapon.”
According to the Time’s Union, Brady “has been associated with a motorcycle gang with ties to the Hells Angels” and had been on a law enforcement watch list since the “disappearance of Michael P. Ahern, a 42-year-old Stillwater resident and member of the Rolling Pride motorcycle club.”
Police said while investigating a crime they obtained information about a resident in Watervliet that may have had “firearms, explosives and narcotics” at 439 3rd Avenue. After getting a warrant, police said that a “multi-agency investigation” commenced in searching the house.
Acting Chief of Police Lieutenant Brian Strock said in a press release Monday, “Upon receiving this concerning information our agency promptly acted by coordinating with various specialized entities to ensure any threat to the public was minimal.”
Brady, who was at the house, was questioned and arrested on charges including felony sexual abuse and misdemeanor counts of unlawfully dealing with a child, unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child, said police.
Separately, reported New York Upstate, Brady is being investigated by the state comptroller’s office because of “several [waste management] limited liability companies” he set up in 2017 and 2018 while working for Abbate.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story was incorrect as it had Abbate as the longest-serving Assemblymember once Assemblyman joe Lentol steps down in January. The honor of the longest-serving assemblymember from Brooklyn starting in January will be Helene Weinstein, who was first elected in 1980.
