Matthew Hamilton is reporting in the Times Union state Assembly member Steve McLaughlin, the Rensselaer County executive-elect, has been sanctioned by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie for workplace harassment. The sanctions were handed down early November 29, following an investigation by an independent outside counsel and recommendations from the chamber's Ethics Committee. McLaughlin was investigated for making offensive lewd comments to a female Assembly employee. According to Heastie's office, a letter of admonition will be publicly issued to McLaughlin by the speaker on behalf of the full Assembly, spelling out the committee's findings and stating that McLaughlin's conduct violated Assembly policy as it pertains to sexual harassment and confidentiality. McLaughlin is now prohibited from having any interns working in his Assembly or district office and must reimburse the chamber for the cost of the comprehensive supplemental sexual harassment and retaliation prevention training he took in July 2017. On Talk 1300’s “Focus on the State Capitol” radio show Nov. 29, McLaughlin said, “It’s not that embarrassing because I didn’t do this.” Read the full story in the Times Union.