NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Bronx state Sen. Luis Sepulveda turned himself in to police Tuesday morning following a "false accusation," that he was assaulting his wife, according to his lawyer.
Sepulveda, 56, and his estranged wife Elizabeth Sepulveda each filed separate reports accusing each other of assault during a domestic dispute on Jan. 9.
According to the senator's lawyer, the domestic abuse allegation against the Bronx senator is false and that he has been the "victim of recurring physical violence by his estranged spouse" for approximately nine years.
Sepulveda, who chairs the state Senate’s Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee was stripped of his role and assignments.
“We learned of this disturbing incident this morning. I am immediately removing Senator Sepúlveda as chair of his committee and from all his committee assignments,” announced state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said in a statement
“I take these allegations extremely seriously and will be monitoring this situation closely.”
Sepulveda was charged with criminal obstruction of breathing but it remains unclear whether his wife will be arrested.
He was being processed Tuesday afternoon at Central Booking and is expected to appear before a judge.
According to the Gotham Gazette, Sepulveda has had a strained relationship with his wife who previously sought an order of protection against him that was later withdrawn.
State Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez took to social media to call for the senator’s resignation.
“Unfortunately, this is not the first time allegations of domestic violence have been brought against Senator Sepúlveda. We need leadership that empowers women — I’m calling for the Senator to submit his resignation,” she wrote on Twitter.