NY Sen. Kevin Parker has to be restrained after he flips out and shoves lobbyist in committee room: sources
State Sen. Kevin Parker had to be restrained by onlookers after he aggressively shoved an Albany lobbyist, The Post has learned.
Michael Carey was allegedly having an impassioned conversation with Parker before the Energy and Telecommunications Committee meeting Wednesday when the senator grabbed the lobbyist by the chest and pushed him twice.
Carey told The Post he will be pressing harassment charges against Parker.
“He grabbed me with both of his hands on my shoulders and shoved me. I stumbled backwards and the he grabbed and pushed me again,” Carey said in a deposition he gave to the state police, later provided to The Post.
Carey said he followed Parker into the committee room before the meeting and asked him to support a piece of legislation the Albany lobbyist has been pushing.
Carey has been advocating for changes in the state’s developmental disabilities systems since his son died while in the care of the state in 2007. He said he tried to convey that to Parker before the Brooklyn politician launched back yelling at him, “I don’t care,” according to the lobbyist and sources.
After Carey noted the Senator’s lack of remorse for his dead son to the room, Parker then launched at him and violently shoved him twice, Carey and others say.
People in the room then jumped to hold back Parker, sources familiar with the kerfuffle told The Post.
A spokesperson for the New York State Police told The Post it’s investigating the altercation.
Security personnel with the Senate sergeant-at-arms and state police quickly responded to the committee room on the first floor of the state Capitol.
Neither man has been charged.
A spokesperson for Parker didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Wednesday’s Capitol dust up is the latest in Parker’s long line of violent incidents.
In 2005, Parker slugged a traffic cop who was writing him a ticket earning him misdemeanor assault charges. A few years later the pol attacked a Post photographer and smashed his camera as he was trying to snap pics of Parker outside his Brooklyn home.
A judge ordered Parker to attend anger management classes after that incident.
“I wish the Senator well. I hope he gets some help,” Carey told The Post.
A woman also accused Parker of raping her in 2004 in a lawsuit brought under the Adult Survivors Act. Parker denies those charges and now argues the ASA is unconstitutional even though he voted for it.
A spokesperson for state Senate Democrats declined to comment on Wednesday’s altercation.
