#Queens Assemblyman reprimanded for violating anti-harassment policy

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) on Thursday reprimanded Queens Assemblyman Michael Miller, who lost his Democratic primary for re-election, for violating the state’s anti-harassment policy.

Heastie’s action came after the Assembly Ethics Committee found that Miller interfered with an investigation into a harassment complaint against him and intimidated witnesses.

Staffers heard Miller talking about the confidential probe, speculating about which one filed the complaint and boasting that his lawyer told him he could sue his accuser for libel and slander, the ethics panel said.

After Miller’s actions, one staffer refused to be interviewed, the investigation found.

“Michael G. Miller breached the confidentiality of the investigation in a manner that had the effect of intimidating potential witnesses,” said Assembly Ethics Committee Chairwoman Jo Anne Simon (D-Brooklyn).

Heastie accepted the findings and reprimanded Miller in a strongly worded slap-down.

“Your conduct violated the Assembly’s policy prohibiting harassment, discrimination and retaliation and is inconsistent with the standards of conduct to which members of the Assembly should be held,” Heastie said.

The speaker said Miller — who lost by 27 points to challenger Jenifer Rajkumar in the June 23 Democratic primary in the 38th AD that takes in Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and Ridgewood — should undergo additional training regarding the law against retaliation and that the Assembly will conduct a “climate survey” of staffers in his office.

Miller declined comment.