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Political Corruption

Politics
Menendez Accepted Benz As Bribe Following Fatal Wreck Caused By His Wife In Bergen: Reports Menendez Accepted Benz As Bribe Following Fatal Wreck Caused By His Wife In Bergen: Reports
Menendez Accepted Benz As Bribe Following Fatal Wreck Caused By His Wife In Bergen: Reports A fatal 2018 car crash in Bergen County involving his wife is what led to embattled New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez accepting bribes to influence a criminal case, according to the federal indictment levied against him.  Nadine Arslanian, the now-wife of embattled Senator Robert Menendez, was involved in a fatal car crash in Bogota in 2018, according to The New York Times. The couple, who married in 2020, were dating at the time of the incident. Arslanian, who was also named in the federal indictments accusing Menendez of accepting bribes from the government of Egypt, among other indiscreti…

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by Sam Barron
News
NY Rep. George Santos Criminally Charged By Federal Prosecutors, Report Says NY Rep. George Santos Criminally Charged By Federal Prosecutors, Report Says
NY Rep. George Santos Criminally Charged By Federal Prosecutors, Report Says Updated story: George Santos Now In Custody, Facing 13 Federal Counts Embattled New York Congressman George Santos has been charged with at least one federal crime, CNN reports. The Republican lawmaker, whose 3rd District represents parts of Nassau County and Queens, is expected to be arraigned on the sealed charge or charges in federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday, May 10, according to the outlet, which cited three sources familiar with the matter. It was not immediately clear what crime or crimes Santos, age 34, is being accused of, but the federal probe is believed to center around ca…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin Arrested For Alleged Scheme To Funnel Fraudulent Donations NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin Arrested For Alleged Scheme To Funnel Fraudulent Donations
NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin Arrested For Alleged Scheme To Funnel Fraudulent Donations New York State's No. 2 political official has been arrested in connection with a campaign-funding scheme during a previous campaign to run for New York City comptroller, federal officials announced. New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, who has been in the role for less than a year, is facing charges that include bribery, honest services wire fraud, and falsification of records following an investigation into probes from his former campaign. Benjamin - a former state senator from Harlem - joined New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration in September following her ascension into the role follo…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Judge Determines Who Is In Charge As Mount Vernon's Mayor Judge Determines Who Is In Charge As Mount Vernon's Mayor
Judge Determines Who Is In Charge As Mount Vernon's Mayor A judge has reportedly ruled against former Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas’ request for an injunction that would allow him to remain in office following his guilty plea to misdemeanor corruption charges. A hearing determined that Thomas is no longer the mayor, following a month of political strife and chaos at City Hall. Acting Mayor Andre Wallace officially took over following the decision on Wednesday, July 31. On Monday, July 8, Thomas pleaded guilty to misappropriating nearly $13,000 in campaign funds and then proceeded to lie about them on government papers. Two days after that plea…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Mount Vernon Mayor Rejects Plea Deal In Criminal Case, Will Head to Trial Mount Vernon Mayor Rejects Plea Deal In Criminal Case, Will Head to Trial
Mount Vernon Mayor Rejects Plea Deal In Criminal Case, Will Head to Trial Embattled Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas will have his day in court. Thomas rejected the final plea deal in his criminal case on Friday and is scheduled to go to trial in July, according to lohud. At his latest court date, Thomas reportedly told Supreme Court Justice Barry Warhit that “I have faith in the system, your honor. I’m proceeding to trial.” The decision came following two hours of conferences between the judge, prosecutors and lawyers representing the mayor. Thomas has vehemently denied any wrongdoing since allegations arose claiming he misappropriated campaign funds. Jury sel…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Mayor Declines Plea Deal In Criminal Case Westchester Mayor Declines Plea Deal In Criminal Case
Westchester Mayor Declines Plea Deal In Criminal Case Embattled Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas has vowed to have his day in court, rejecting a plea deal that could have helped him avoid potential jail time. Earlier this year, Thomas was charged following an investigation which exposed that he allegedly stole $12,900 from his campaign committee and diverted more than $45,000 from his inaugural committee for personal use and failed to disclose that information to officials. Thomas was charged with third-degree grand larceny and two counts of third-degree ordering a false instrument for filing, all felonies. He was also charged with two count…

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by Zak Failla
News
Mayor In Westchester Picks Familiar Defense Team In Corruption Case Mayor In Westchester Picks Familiar Defense Team In Corruption Case
Mayor In Westchester Picks Familiar Defense Team In Corruption Case Embattled Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas is turning to a familiar defense team as his criminal trial for alleged corruption approaches. Earlier this year, the Mount Vernon mayor was charged following an investigation which exposed that he allegedly stole $12,900 from his campaign committee and diverted more than $45,000 from his inaugural committee for personal use and failed to disclose that information to officials. Thomas was charged with third-degree grand larceny and two counts of third-degree ordering a false instrument for filing, all felonies. He was also charged with two counts …

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Gloves Off: Molinaro Calls Cuomo 'Classless Buffoon' After Attack Ad Rips GOP Candidate's Wife Gloves Off: Molinaro Calls Cuomo 'Classless Buffoon' After Attack Ad Rips GOP Candidate's Wife
Gloves Off: Molinaro Calls Cuomo 'Classless Buffoon' After Attack Ad Rips GOP Candidate's Wife Gov. Andrew Cuomo's campaign has just released an attack ad accusing his Republican challenger Marc Molinaro for engaging in “the worst of pay-to-play politics.” The ad comes two weeks after the Dutchess County executivie unveiled his own television ad blasting Cuomo about corruption-related convictions of former top advisers. Tuesday's Cuomo ad prompted Molinaro to call the Democratic governor a “classless buffoon," while posting a response here on Facebook.  The 30-second Cuomo ad, which is running on television statewide, accused Molinaro of accepting more than $5,000 in donations …

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by Jon Craig
Politics
Former NY State Senate Majority Leader, Son Convicted Of Bribery, Extortion Former NY State Senate Majority Leader, Son Convicted Of Bribery, Extortion
Former NY State Senate Majority Leader, Son Convicted Of Bribery, Extortion Guilty, again. Former New York State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son, Adam Skelos, have been convicted on corruption charges in federal court. The two had previously been found guilty of the same offenses by a jury in December 2015, but their convictions were overturned by a U.S. Court of Appeals." United States Attorney Robert Khuzami announced Tuesday, July 17 that the Skelos’ have been found guilty of bribery, extortion and honest services fraud charges following a five-week trial in court. “For the second time, Dean Skelos repeatedly abused his official position to…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Ex-Assembly Speaker Silver Found Guilty In Second Corruption Trial Ex-Assembly Speaker Silver Found Guilty In Second Corruption Trial
Ex-Assembly Speaker Silver Found Guilty In Second Corruption Trial The former New York State Assembly Speaker has been convicted by a jury in Manhattan federal court on corruption charges. Sheldon Silver was convicted of the same seven counts in 2015, but the conviction was reversed.  Silver, a Democrat, obtained nearly $4 million in illicit payments through an asbestos doctor and two real estate companies in return for legislative favors, jurors decided after a two-week trial. The 74-year-old Silver, who represented lower Manhattan, will be sentenced July 13. Silver, who served two decades as speaker, forfeited his seat in late 2015, along with  former …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Actor, Activists Rally Outside Trial Of Ex-Cuomo Aide From Westchester Actor, Activists Rally Outside Trial Of Ex-Cuomo Aide From Westchester
Actor, Activists Rally Outside Trial Of Ex-Cuomo Aide From Westchester A group of activists, including actor James Cromwell, rallied outside the courthouse where Westchester resident and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo top aide Joseph Percoco’s corruption trial continues. Last year, Percoco, a South Salem resident, was indicted on corruption charges that allege he accepted more than $300,000 in bribes to benefit Competitive Power Ventures, an energy company that sought to build the power plant in the Hudson Valley, and COR Development, a real estate developer that received several sizable state projects. Cromwell, a resident of Warwick in Orange County, as well as gu…

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by Zak Failla