The special Senate committee investigating Queens Senator Hiram Monserrate released its report. Our Grace Rauh has more on the panel's findings and Monserrate's response.

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"I will continue to serve the constituents of the 13th Senatorial district. I will fight to the end to defend their right and to ensure that the voters in my district are not disenfranchised," Monserrate said.

He publicly dug in his heels after a State Senate panel charged with investigating the senator released its final report recommending that the Senate vote to expel or censure the Queens politician. Monserrate's attorney says the Senate doesn't have the authority to expel the senator and Monserrate says he'll fight any effort to remove him from his seat in court. Monserrate was convicted of misdemeanor assault stemming from allegations he slashed his girlfriend's face with a broken glass in December 2008.

"We do not believe Senator Monserrate was honest about the events of December 2008 and we also were concerned, quite frankly, that he has refused to take responsibility for his conduct," said Eric Schneiderman.

The report, signed by the nine members of the bipartisan panel, states, "Senator Monserrate's misconduct damages the integrity and the reputation of the New York State Senate and demonstrates a lack of fitness to serve in this body."

Monserrate also made it clear he isn't going to bend under pressure from the Democratic Party, even after the state chairman called on him Thursday to resign immediately.

"I am not elected for the benefits or the ideals of a party. I am elected by voters and people," said Monserrate.

Several panel members told us they will vote to expel him if the measure comes to the Senate floor for a vote. But neither resolution will go forward without a green light from Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson, who declined to comment on the next step for the senate.

Monserrate, meanwhile, seemed oddly upbeat about his political future. He says he believes the voters in his district will reelect him and says he looks forward to taking his message directly to the people.