- Carl Heastie was reportedly in a relationship with Rebecca Lamorte
- But Heastie, 56, refused to answer questions about his relationship with the lobbyist this week, saying there was “no conflict” between his life and work.
New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has refused to respond to allegations that he was dating a 32-year-old lobbyist after attending a football game together.
Heastie, 56, has been in a relationship with Rebecca Lamorte, a lobbyist for the Greater New York Laborers-Employers Cooperation & Education Trust (LECET) union since at least November, according to Focus on New York.
But when asked Monday if it was a romantic relationship and asked if it was a conflict of interest, he ended the questions by saying: ” I will never, once again, allow it to be clarified, talk about my personal life.”
He added: “My life will never conflict with my work,” reports the NY Post.
Lamorte and Heastie went to a Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys game on Dec. 17 and sat in New York’s special box alongside Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Heastie refused to answer questions about his relationship with Rebecca Lamorte on Monday
Lamorte is a lobbyist for the Greater New York Laborers-Employers Cooperation & Education Trust (LECET) union.
Lamorte was listed as a guest on the state registry for the event, but she did not list LECET as her employer, instead saying she was “independent.”
Lamorte, who is disabled, lobbies in New York on behalf of construction unions and their contractors.
She is also a disability advocate, having suffered nerve damage after an assault on the subway in 2013, and has criticized the MTA for its lack of accessibility on public transportation.
She also ran for city council in the Upper East Side’s 5th District seat in 2020 and lost.
LECET told New York Focus that Lamorte had made them “aware” that she was “seeing the speaker” over the past 30 to 45 days.
They said that when she informed them, she was “instructed not to lobby the Assembly” or Heastie and said they “were not aware of any lobbying in which she s ‘has been engaged with the Assembly since we put this policy in place.’
Likewise, Heastie told the New York Post Monday: “I’ve been very clear that protocols are in place, and that’s all you need to be comfortable with.”
There are no specific rules prohibiting a lobbyist from having a relationship with a state elected official.
She is also a disability advocate after suffering nerve damage to her leg in 2013.
Heastie said: “I’ve been very clear that protocols are in place, and that’s all you need to be comfortable with”
According to a letter writer written by Heastie’s Assembly lawyer and seen by the Post, Heastie agreed not to have in-person meetings with LECET.
The letter reads: “Senior management will come to propose a consensus decision to the President on any matter specific or unique to these organizations.”
Lamorte is one of four lobbyists listed for LECET in January and February.
The organization campaigns for the use of unionized labor on construction projects in New York.
Heastie has served in the New York State Assembly since 2001 and represents the 83rd District. He became president of the Assembly in 2015.
DailyMail.com has contacted Lamorte and Heastie for comment.
