Is Joe Bruno going to prison?
Today has become Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter, Halloween, Purim, St. Patrick's Day, Fourth of July and Boxing Day all rolled into one for the political junkies and media in New York State.
Not only has Kirsten Gillibrand been appointed to the Senate, but Joe Bruno has been indicted.
The eight count indictment alleges that Bruno used his influence as state Senate majority leader to score $3.2 million in consulting fees from private clients. (The TU has posted a copy of the indictment.)
Uncle Joe was arraigned this afternoon -- he pleaded not guilty -- and was defiant, saying he's been "a target of a get Joe Bruno campaign."
If convicted, Bruno could get 20 years in prison.
In other news, officials from nearby federal penitentiaries said they're excited about their chances of landing a multi-billion dollar chip fab facility.
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Comments
I wonder what is going on with the Susan Bruno issue. Now that he's been officially indicted I'm sure (or at least I would like to be) that they won't let this go.
... said Emma on Jan 23, 2009 at 3:57 PM | link
Me too. I have not heard anything more about this after the article came out in TU. Her resume was just plain pathetic.
... said josie on Jan 25, 2009 at 9:43 AM | link
Her resume isn't the only thing that is pathetic...
... said Emma on Jan 26, 2009 at 9:17 AM | link
Never Understimate the Power of Greed!!
No doubt, the case against Bruno looks solid and reveals a pattern of irregular and highly questionable business practices. I'm not aware of many Albany area "consultants" that get paid their $40,000 fees in cash on their way to a racetrack.
Joe's right to "earn of living" did not give him the right to defraud the taxpayers of New York, multiple union pension funds, and probably most damming the IRS. OUCH, good luck with that last one Joe!
Finally, stop all the nonsense about how much "good", Bruno did for the area. Albany is a viable metropolitan area that also serves as the center of New York State government! Were we not going to have an airport? Were we not going to have a Penn League affiliate? Were they not going to build roads and bridges in the area?
Stop the rhetoric and the love affair with this guy--he is who we now see him as. He lived on the public dime for 30+ years and used that position to enrich himself, employ his family, and steer grant monies to for profit companies ran by his "friends". Like everyone else that has gone down this road, his greed was inevitably his downfall.
My question is this-if Bruno becomes a convicted felon and ends up in prison-will we still call the Valleycats stadium in Troy the Joseph L. Bruno stadium? Are plans underway to sandblast his name off the side of the entrance; if not, maybe they should be! It would be tough to explain to my children that the "wonderful man" that this stadium is named for is now doing a 5 year stint in state prison.
Any Thoughts??
... said nytaxpayer on Jan 26, 2009 at 9:41 AM | link
hey, finally joe will join all the rest of the political cronies that preceded him. hope hes happy now, you bas----.
... said bill costigan on Jan 29, 2009 at 9:51 PM | link