Feds expose NY political bribe scandal
For the politically ambitious, running as a Republican is sometimes the best way a Democrat can increase his electoral odds in New York City’s crowded mayoral race. Now, a federal prosecutor says one Democratic state lawmaker went too far by offering GOP bosses bribes in order to get on their ballot.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said Tuesday that Malcolm Smith, who has served at times as the state Senate’s majority and minority leader since becoming a senator in March 2000, was arrested along with Republican New York City Councilman Dan Halloran and four other political figures.
Bharara said Smith “tried to bribe his way to a shot at Gracie Mansion,” the official mayor’s residence. “Smith drew up the game plan and Councilman Halloran essentially quarterbacked that drive by finding party chairmen who were wide open to receiving bribes,” he said.