Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren is weighing in after an ethics complaint was filed by a Monroe County legislator against Congressman Joe Morelle.

Legislator Sabrina Lamar, a Democrat who represents the county’s 27th district and also works at RIT, alleges that Rep. Morelle used the power of his office to threaten her employment at the university.  

Mayor Warren addressed the complaint at City Hall, saying that the congressman told her that he called the university. She showed strong emotion at the press event, specifically criticizing the congressman.

"I am tired of people like Joe Morelle abusing their position to silence women, to silence a Black woman they disagree with. I won’t allow this to occur without speaking out. Ms. LaMar and Black and Brown women have a right to speak truth to power," Warren said.

The congressman's office released a statement Monday afternoon, saying: “The Morelle campaign inquired about RIT personnel appearing in political campaign advertising in their professional capacity as an RIT employee. At no time was the employee’s employment or funding for the institution raised.”