ALBANY - The New York Assembly's ethics committee met behind closed doors in an unannounced session Thursday involving a disciplinary case. Members wouldn't say if it concerned a colleague now facing federal charges of taking $500,000 in illegal payments, another accused of an extramarital affair with a legislative employee or a third accused of sexually harassing a woman.

Committee Chairman William Magnarelli, an Onondaga County Democrat, said the panel of four Democrats and four Republicans would try to reach a consensus on how to handle the case, which would be forwarded to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. The committee doesn't plan to make its findings public, although any sanction against a lawmaker would be announced.

Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, a Kingston Democrat, said the private session was necessary “because we could be discussing matters that could lead to the disciplining of a particular person.”

Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group said the Assembly ethics process has at least two problems: complete secrecy and self-regulation by lawmakers. There should be an independent watchdog, he said.

“When it comes to ethics, Albany is like Dodge City without Wyatt Earp,” Horner said. “It takes the federal U.S. marshals to crack down on crime.”

Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio, a Queens Democrat, was accused by federal prosecutors Wednesday of taking more than $500,000 in illegal payments from people with business before the state.

Seminerio, 73, first elected in 1978, is accused of creating a bogus consulting firm to hide the payments he received for advocating on behalf of clients and getting them access to other state officials. Seminerio, released on $500,000 bail, declined to comment to reporters as he left court.

In August, the Assembly Standing Committee on Ethics and Guidance was asked to investigate allegations Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, a Buffalo Democrat, exchanged sexually explicit e-mails with a legislative employee during an affair.

Hoyt, 46, has denied he violated the Legislature's ban on fraternizing with interns nearly five years ago. He said the accusation was the result of political opponents resorting to “the lowest tactics.”

Hoyt has continued to apologize for not upholding his wedding vows several years ago and hasn't explicitly denied an affair with an employee except to say the woman was not an intern. He won a primary election Tuesday.

The Assembly is also investigating a claim first-term Republican Assemblyman Greg Ball, 30, of Putnam County sexually harassed a woman. Ball denies the allegation, which he blames on political opponents.