Jumaane Williams' '09 Arrest Raises Questions Day Before Election

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK -- City councilmember Jumaane Williams admitted, just days before the Public Advocate special election, that a 2009 fight with his then-girlfriend landed him in handcuffs, and his competitors have been quick to call out the candidate on a troubled past when it comes to women's issues.

"I had a verbal disagreement with my then partner," stated Williams. "I left the apartment to pick up dinner for both of us, return, and let cooler heads prevail.”

The Brooklyn Democrat admitted to the arrest after a law enforcement source told the Daily News Williams was arrested after several items were thrown in a Brooklyn home on Jan. 9, 2009.

Williams stated he was arrested upon returning home, but charges were later dropped and the case sealed.

Several candidates have since spoken out against Williams and called on him to give a full account of the incident before Tuesday's election.

"Given that Councilmember Williams is running for Public Advocate on a platform of being a champion for men AND women of this city, the public deserves to know all of the facts before they head to the polls on Tuesday," said Dawn Smalls, an attorney.

"The people of New York City deserve this information to make an informed decision before they head to the polls on Tuesday to elect the next Public Advocate, a citywide elected official that is first in line in succession to the Mayor."

Candidates Melissa Mark-Viverito and Nomiki Konst also held a press conference at Brooklyn Borough Monday calling on Williams to release the police report.

"As a survivor of sexual assault myself, I'm deeply troubled by these revelations,” former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito told the Daily News. “Jumaane's decision to closely align himself with men who have harassed and assaulted women raises serious red flags."

This is not the first time Williams has faced such criticism.

Williams' former campaign aid faced a $5,000 fine for sending romantic poems to a high school student but didn't lose his job, the Daily News reported earlier this month.

And Williams still touts endorsements from State Senator Kevin Parker, who tweeted at a woman, "Kill yourself," and Andy King, who faced harassment charges after demanding a female staffer "wear a beautiful gown."

Williams has also faced backlash for his reported stance on women's right to choose in 2013, we told Politico in 2013, “I am personally not in favor of abortion."

But despite these and other controversies —reported in-depth in a City & State report entitled, "Is Jumaane Williams made of Teflon?" — Williams remains among the frontrunners for tomorrow's race, having recently earned an endorsement from the New York Times.

"We enthusiastically endorse him as the city’s next public advocate," the Times editorial board wrote. "He is the right person to fight for the millions of New Yorkers frustrated with the city’s subways, struggling to find affordable housing in its neighborhoods, and waiting to have their voices heard. "