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April 3, 2013

New York Lawmakers Indicted for Bribery Scandal 
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Two New York lawmakers and several other state political figures have
been indicted for a corruption scheme aimed at rigging New York City's
upcoming race for mayor. State Senator Malcolm Smith, a Democrat, is
accused of enlisting the help of New York City Councilman Dan Halloran,
a Republican, to bribe GOP officials so that Smith could run as their
candidate. Preet Bharara, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New
York, unveiled the indictment.

Preet Bharara: "The charges we unsealed today demonstrate, once again,
that a show-me-the-money culture seems to pervade every level of New
York government. At the heart of the allegations is a sitting Democratic
senator from Queens, Malcolm Smith, who believed he could, and should,
be the mayor of New York City, and who, in the service of that ambition,
tried to bribe his way to a shot at Gracie Mansion. As the complaint
describes, Senator Smith drew up the game plan, and Republican
Councilman Halloran essentially quarterbacked it by finding party
chairmen who were wide open to receive bribes."

Others charged include Bronx Republican Party Chair Jay Savino and
Queens Republican Party leader Vincent Tabone, who are accused of
accepting a bribe of $40,000.

 

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