Speaking on NY1's "Road to City Hall" Friday, State Senators Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrate defended their decisions to turn against the Democratic Party earlier this week.

The two Democrats took part in the Monday vote that claimed to end Senator Malcolm Smith's rule as senate majority leader and to install Senator Dean Skelos as senate majority leader and Espada as president pro tempore of the senate.

Monserrate said he voted to bring about new leadership, reform and an end to divisive partisanship in Albany.

"We took a decisive action to change the legislation that had legislation bottled up, that ensured a system that partisanship has been an horrible experience in the Senate and we changed that and we changed that with one vote," said Monserrate. "Now we have an opportunity to create a coalition government in the state of New York."

State Senate Democrats held a meeting in Downtown Manhattan Friday to talk about their troubled leadership as rumors emerged that Senator Malcolm Smith may step down as Democratic leader.

If Smith were to be voted out, Senator John Sampson of Brooklyn, right, is believed to take his place.

Sampson said the Democratic conference is united, but it is not clear who they are united behind.

"We talked about our court case. We are united as a conference and united we go forward. That's all I have to say," said Sampson.

"We talked about the lawsuit, and we gave everybody an update as to where we are. We think we're making good headway on the lawsuit," said Smith. "The opinions from the court seem to be in our favor and hopefully we'll know something by Monday. Our conference is very united."

Monserrate did not attend the Democrats' meeting, but briefly met Smith at a preparatory event for Sunday's Puerto Rican Day Parade, where the two greeted each other and shook hands.

If the State Senate does not work out a power agreement by Monday, New York State Supreme Court Judge Thomas McNamara said that he is prepared to rule on whether the coalition's assumption of power was legal.

McNamara was willing to assume the responsibility of making a decision, but said Friday that he prefers both sides work out the matter on their own.

"It would be in everyone's best interest if the Senate over the weekend got together and either, when cameras aren't there, let calmer heads prevail and resolve this among yourselves."

Meanwhile, Espada and Skelos threatened legal action against Secretary of the Senate Angelo Aponte on Friday, saying that the secretary is obstructing the Senate session from proceeding.

They sent a letter, which read in part, "No section of the Legislative Law or the Senate Rules gives the Secretary of the Senate the power to bar access to the Senate Chamber or to impede action on pending legislation.... By obstructing the orderly conduct of the Senate you are exceeding your statutory authority, violating the state constitution, state law, the Senate Rules, as well as your own oath of office."

Meanwhile, Espada took some time in his NY1 interview to address allegations that he does not live in the district he represents.

"My home has always been in the Bronx, where I go to church and my civic activity," said Espada. "Don't you think for a moment we would be calling all the citizens of these districts fools if they have given me 97 percent because they don't know me? No, because they saw me in the streets and they voted me in."

The Bronx district attorney's office is investigating the exact location of the lawmaker's primary home.