Downstate Senator Hiram Monserrate says he and his attorneys will cooperate fully with a state Senate review committee to assess what action should be taken against the senator. Monserrate was convicted last week on a misdemeanor charge in an assault case. Our Michael Scotto has more on the special committee.

NEW YORK STATE -- State Senator Hiram Monserrate's troubles are far from over. His misdemeanor conviction for assaulting his girlfriend has prompted a Senate investigation into whether he should be removed from office.

"I'm not only angry, but I'm pissed off. But as a leader, I can't allow my individual feelings supersede the rights of each members," said Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson.

Sampson formed the special committee. And while he sounded angry on Tuesday, he had appeared publicly supportive of Monserrate during the trial.

The panel will consist of nine state senators, five democrats and four republicans. Those Democrats are Eric Schneiderman, who will chair the committee, Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Diane Savino, Toby Ann Stavisky and Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

"I looked at individuals, first and foremost, who did not make any statements to the media to show their positions or show their hands," Sampson said.

Republicans have not yet appointed their own members, but already they're not happy. They're questioning whether the Democrat-leaning panel can conduct a nonpartisan investigation, a charge Democrats dismissed.

"Anyone who was around in June knows what even division does. We don't want to take a chance on deadlock," Schneiderman said.

Schneiderman says the only precedent to this type of committee involves a 1920 case in which five members of the Assembly were expelled for belonging to the socialist party.

Meanwhile, Monserrate's office says the State senator and his attorneys will cooperate with the probe.

Schneiderman anticipates that the all hearings will be public and he expects the process to wrap up as quickly as possible.