Nassau Dems: Ciotti knew campaign worker

Nassau County Democratic leaders are rejecting claims that County Legislator John Ciotti did not know the man who was caught making racially charged comments in a video released on YouTube nearly three weeks ago.

“You are judged by the company you keep and you are judged by the truth of your words,” said Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs. “John Ciotti fails on both counts.”

In new information released Monday, Jacobs said that Ciotti’s law firm represented Vinny Prisco in an assault case 10 years ago. Recently, Prisco was caught on video hanging signs outside the campaign headquarters of Carrié Solages, Ciotti’s opponent in the 3rd Legislative District. When confronted, Prisco said he had permission to do so, though did not give the name of the building’s owner when asked. He also made racially charged comments.

Ciotti immediately dismissed Prisco from his campaign, and called Prisco’s comments both “despicable” and “deplorable.” However, Jacobs said Ciotti only did so because of the video’s wide exposure and questioned whether his apology was genuine.

At a press conference hosted by Solages shortly after the video came out, Ciotti tried to attend, to apologize for Prisco’s actions, but was turned away. “Basically, I wanted to reach out to Carrié Solages’s sister and apologize, and tell her that wasn’t the voice of my campaign,” Ciotti said. “Like I said before, I found the actions in that video to be deplorable and despicable. It sickened me.”

But Jacobs said the real issue is Ciotti lying about his relationship with Prisco. In July 2001, Prisco was arrested for second-degree assault. It was later reduced to a misdemeanor, according to court records. Jacobs said that Ciotti’s law firm, which only has two partners, defended Prisco who was charged with attacking a minority male in Garden City Park with a metal pole.

“John Ciotti has a relationship with Vinny Prisco,” Jacobs said. “For John Ciotti to make a claim that he doesn’t know this guy, or barely knows of him, is just untruthful.”

Additionally, Jacobs noted that Ciotti has served as general counsel to Sanitary District 6, where Prisco works and was promoted to a supervisor position two years ago. Jacobs said even Prisco’s mother admits the two know each other.
“He failed the test of character,” Jacobs said. “John Ciotti will be judged by the voters of the 3rd Legislative District this coming Tuesday, Nov. 8.”

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