On Tuesday February 9, 2010 the New York Senate voted 53-8 to expel Senator Hiram Monserrate. The vote was a result of the conviction of Monserrate earlier, for dragging his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo, through his apartment lobby, an incident which occurred in December 2008. He was not convicted for hitting her with a beer bottle. The senate had been voting on two resolutions, one on his immediate expulsion, and one to expel him by June 30 or after his criminal appeal. An alternative resolution to censure him was rejected by the Democratic party.http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ilU1xIhCUP3SaMZCW22nsbQO9JDQD9DP1SNG1 After the vote, Senator Eric Schneiderman stated:
"Sen. Monserrate's abusive and unlawful conduct damages the integrity of the New York State Senate and demonstrates a lack of fitness to serve in this body" http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/02/09/2010-02-09_state_senate_to_vote_to_expel_sen_hiram_monserrate_over_misdemeanor_assault_conv.html#ixzz0f8Ku27jx

Monserrate, a Democrat from Queens, who is appealing his conviction, had tried to convince the State Senate stating:
""This is clearly a much, much bigger issue than just me. This is about the process and the rule of law. "I know that my behavior has brought unwelcome discredit to this chamber, and for that, I am deeply sorry. But, as Rev. Jesse Jackson once said, 'God isn't through with me yet.'"

The expulsion of a New Your State Senator is very rare. Monserrate is only the fourth ever sitting senator to be expelled, and the first since 1861. Monserrate is appealing both his conviction, and his expulsion from the state senate.http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/02/09/2010-02-09_state_senate_to_vote_to_expel_sen_hiram_monserrate_over_misdemeanor_assault_conv.html

Even though both Republican an Democratic members joined together in expelling Hiram Monserrate, the expulsion itself has political consequences. Without Monserrate, the Democratic party has a 31-30 majority in the Senate, but no longer holds a 32 vote majority to pass anything without Republican support.http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/02/09/2010-02-09_state_senate_to_vote_to_expel_sen_hiram_monserrate_over_misdemeanor_assault_conv.html