Bruno Guilty. Senate Rules should be Named Co-conspirator

by: NYBri

Tue Dec 08, 2009 at 17:07:30 PM EST

The details brought out in the trial have finally opened the window on exactly how the Senate was run under his leadership and how business was done in Albany for the 15 years he was in charge.

What we saw was a textbook example of how a powerful politician used his position in the Senate to enrich himself and his associates via the activities of his "other outside jobs" as a consultant and business owner.

As disturbing (and unsurprising to those who have followed Albany politics) as his law-breaking was, what should be more disturbing are the activities for which he was not convicted. The fact that they were NOT against the law speaks volumes about the law itself and the way the rules of the Senate have evolved over the decades.

Because there has been no threat to the power structure in Albany for so long, players left and right have learned to play the system, and the lawmakers have done nothing to upset the cart.

An example of strange bedfellows that this system created is the incredible union support Uncle Joe and the Republicans received over the years. Why would unions support a Republican party that repeatedly passed environmental, education and taxation legislation that hurt working class people? Well, it turns out that Bruno did consulting work for an organization that had the unions as clients so now we have a pretty good reason why he gave the unions everything they asked for come contract time. Nice pay off using state money.

Well, the times they are a changing.

The rocks that have been turned over this year have shown a particularly seedy and messy world; a world that New Yorkers should no longer tolerate. They certainly can't afford it anymore.

Now the question becomes, how do we change the State Senate and how it does business? Well, it begins with the Senators themselves. More specifically, YOUR Senator.

If your Senator isn't committed to real reform, they shouldn't get your support. It's pretty simple.

We should be dedicated to electing Senators who listen to dissenting opinion, make decisions based on fact and discussion - not influence and money, and that they represent the people that elected them - not their own self-interest. If we elect an army of these people to represent us, as was the intent when the Constitution was drafted, then all the other issues most of us are concerned about will take care of themselves through ethics reform, open debate, and the electoral process. (h/t to AB)

ReBootNY.org

Joe Bruno Guilty On 2 of 8 Felony Counts

by: Putney Swope

Mon Dec 07, 2009 at 16:29:42 PM EST

Bruno Gulity On 2 Of 8 Counts

A jury has found former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno guilty on two of eight counts of felony corruption charges, the DN's Glenn Blain reports.

Both of the counts are in connection with Bruno's relationship with businessman Jared Abbruzzese. They are:

   Count 4: From March 2004 through November 2004 Bruno or his consulting firm received 11 payments from companies controlled by Jared E. Abbruzzese of Loudonville. Bruno allegedly did not perform legitimate work for the Abbruzzese companies, Communication Technology Advisors LLC and Capital & Technology Advisors LLC, and the payments were in effect gifts.

And...

   Count 8: Bruno failed to disclose his participation through Mountain View Farm in a partnership with Abbruzzese involving thoroughbred race horses. The charge alleges Bruno received a check from Abbruzzese's company, Bazaguma LLC, on Nov. 17, 2005.

He was acquitted on five other charges. The jury could not reach a decision on one charge.

More:

Former Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno was convicted of federal corruption today for exploiting his political office to enrich himself through side "consultant' work that conflicted with his role as one of the most powerful men in New York state government.

The 80-year-old Republican from Brunswick sat quietly as the jury of seven women and five men rendered its verdict about 4:15 p.m.: Guilty on two counts of mail and wire fraud.

snip

Bruno, acquitted of five counts, was found guilty in connection with 11 payments he received from companies controlled by Loudonville businessman Jared Abbruzzese.

The jury found Bruno did not perform legitimate work for the Abbruzzese companies - and that the payments were, in effect, gifts.

He was also convicted of failing to disclose his participation in a partnership with Abbruzzese that involving thoroughbred race horses.

Senate rules

by: Dan Jacoby

Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 08:27:10 AM EDT

Under Rule V, Sec. 3, subsection a, Andrea Stewart-Cousins' position on the rostrum, holding the gavel, before "the hour to which the Senate shall have adjourned" may have been premature.  True, Governor Paterson called a special session, but that was for a later time as well.

Rule VI deals with introduction of bills and resolutions, and is quite detailed regarding procedure -- procedure which doesn't seem to have been followed yesterday.  Rule VIII deals with passage of bills, and again procedures don't seem to have been followed.  It is probable, therefore, that no bills were legitimately passed.

However...

Rule VIII, Section 6b, provides for a "fast roll call," where five Senators are called by name, including the Temporary President and the minority leader.  The secretary must then note who is absent.  Presumably, under this system, everyone present is presumed to have voted "yes" on any bill.  Five senators can request a full roll call, but this was not done yesterday.

Rule IX, Section 1 provides for some other voting procedures which may or may not have been followed -- especially the rule about the "controversial calendar."

There is a lot here that I haven't figured out yet; if anyone has better info please inform us all.

Patronage, Cronyism, Fraud - Oh, Albany

by: phillip anderson

Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 09:46:17 AM EST

Inspector General Joseph Fisch has ordered an independent investigation of the State Insurance Fund in the wake of a slew of allegations of mismanagement, abuse and waste at the agency, which is being described by a whistle-blower as a landing spot for political patronage appointees.

Fisch said Tuesday he called for the probe of "the Hinton case" to respond to a sworn statement he received from Edward Obertubbesing, an insurance fund lawyer who once managed Randall Hinton, the fund's director of investigation. Hinton was featured in a Times Union story last month in which Obertubbesing confirmed that Hinton has been given almost nothing to do for most of the past decade.

Hinton said he listens to music and watches traffic outside his window while being paid almost $94,000 a year. Hinton says he's being retaliated against by Republicans controlling the fund.

"We are conducting a full investigation of the allegations relating to the State Insurance Fund," Fisch said in an interview. He said he is also monitoring a Human Rights Division complaint Hinton filed last month alleging he is being discriminated against for having sued the state during the administration of Gov. George Pataki. He is an American Indian. As part of a settlement of his suit years ago, Hinton was guaranteed a job as director of investigations at the fund. He alleges he got the post, but no responsibilities that comport with the job, and Obertubbesing said Hinton was blackballed and intentionally deprived of meaningful work by the top brass of the fund, who are serving in long-term appointments made by Pataki.

...

Allegations by Obertubbesing, which were also sent to the Insurance Fund's chairman, the Attorney General's Office, the Office of the State Comptroller and the Civil Service commissioner, include the fund's practice of hiring people at the behest of Republican leaders such as Pataki or former Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, giving them work that does not match up with Civil Service titles and relatively high salaries. The situation, Obertubbesing said, harmed morale among civil servants who had to pass tests for their posts and in many cases had to train the higher-paid appointees. Such long-serving employees, he said, were denied opportunities for advancement and better pay while the fund's management violated labor agreements and state regulations.

A look at the fund's payroll shows several people formerly working for Pataki in the executive branch received posts around the time of his departure from office at the end of 2006. Others got high-wage jobs well before Pataki's last term. For instance, Elizabeth Sweeney, the first wife of Pataki's first labor commissioner, former Rep. John Sweeney, was hired in 1998 as a secretary. She retains that title and is paid the same pay as Hinton, $93,803. She and the former congressman did not return a call Tuesday seeking comment.

That's some prime Albany dysfunction they got there.

Ho-Lee Krap: Behold The 'Brunomobile', The Private TV Studio And...

by: phillip anderson

Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 23:54:23 PM EST

And don't even ask about the parking spaces. Or how much this was costing us.

Democrats took control of the State Senate last month after more than four decades of Republican rule, then set out to determine how the Senate's own budget of nearly $100 million and its attendant perks were being distributed.

They are still trying to figure it out.

They recently realized there are some 75 employees working at the Senate's own printing plant, a plain brick building on the outskirts of Albany. On Long Island, they found a small television studio, which had been set up - all with public money, with two press aides on hand to help operate it - for the exclusive use of Republican senators to record cable TV shows.

Democrats also came across what they are calling the "Brunomobile," a $50,000 specially outfitted GMC van, with six leather captain's chairs (some swiveling), a navigation system, rearview camera and meeting table. Joseph L. Bruno, the former Senate majority leader who was recently indicted on corruption charges, traveled in the van after his use of state helicopters sparked a feud with the Spitzer administration.

Then there are the parking spots, always at a premium near the Capitol. Democrats had been given roughly one spot per senator - there were 30 Democrats last year - and guessed there were perhaps double or even triple that controlled by the majority. Instead, they have learned, there are more than 800.

And Democratic leaders must determine what to do about 45 workers toiling away in a building close to the Capitol who appear to have been engaged in quasi-political research for the Republicans.

(All emphasis mine)

Look, I think we've always known that something like this was going on. I mean, it was obvious that Republican Senators sent full color mailings while Democrats sent mailings in black and white. I have written myself about really lame fake TV "news" reports praising this or that GOP senator. They were obviously produced in house.

That said, I had no idea they were operating a clandestine TV Studio of their very own. The best quote in the entire piece goes to Rich Azzopardi, spokeman for Senator Craig Johnson:

Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Senator Craig M. Johnson - who had been the lone Long Island Democrat until November's election - said he had heard "vague rumors" about the existence of the facility. He guffawed when asked if Mr. Johnson had ever been invited by the Republicans to use it.

"No," Mr. Azzopardi said, "I don't believe they ever gave us the password that shut down the waterfall to enter the cave leading into the studio."

And even the new Majority Leader has no idea just how extensive this system of patronage and privilege was.

During an interview, Mr. Smith turned to an aide and asked: "What's that place off campus? Some building we haven't even been to yet. It has like 200 people there and we didn't even know it existed."

He was referring to the Senate's printing plant, about seven miles from the Capitol.

Bills, mailings and various brochures were printed there, with Republicans receiving premium service. For instance, the constituent newsletters sent to Republican districts were printed in multiple colors, while those printed for Democratic districts were printed in black and white, with one color. Democratic leaders say the lease for the plant currently costs the state $632,460 per year, and that the payroll appears to be about $2.7 million.

Workers there, many of whom have worked at the facility for much of their professional lives, are wondering about their job security.

"It's not like it doesn't go through people's minds," said Fred Beck, the good-natured assistant director of mail and printing services for the Senate, during a tour of the plant. He showed a reporter three jumbo Xerox machines that can each crank out 180 copies per minute, as well as thick coils of paper and stacks of Senate mailers.

Are all the employees here Republicans? Mr. Beck was asked.

"Yeah, I believe so," he said. "It's not like I go around and ask."

The next time that some GOP Senator tells you that they are just trying to be good stewards of the public's money or that they are standing up for the little guy or that they and only they can protect you from those megalomaniac elitists from NYC -- or any such nonsense -- ask them if they ever got a ride in the "Brunomobile".

Good Gawd.

Bruno Trial In November?

by: phillip anderson

Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 11:34:47 AM EST

Bruno trial slated for November

A November trial has been tentatively scheduled for former Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, who was indicted by a federal grand jury last month on allegations he made millions of dollars through his senatorial position.

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday told U.S. District Court Judge Gary L. Sharpe they are ready to go to trial in three months.

...

"I can see no realistic way we can go in May," Sharpe said. The judge then outlined a motion schedule that would lead up to a trial he tentatively scheduled to begin Nov. 2. Attorneys in the case said they expect the trial to last about a month.

Oh, and Uncle Joe knew he was under investigation in at least April of 2006, something that he neglected to tell anyone else, namely his constituents or his colleagues in the Senate until December of that year -- ya know, after the election.

Among the documents that were turned over was an FBI report from an April 2006 interview that Bruno had with FBI agents in Albany.

The FBI report, which is known as a ''302,'' is not filed in public records. It allegedly contains notes from at least two FBI agents who interviewed Bruno that spring after he requested to meet with them when he learned of the probe.

The document's existence confirms that Bruno knew roughly three years ago that he was the subject of a federal criminal probe. It also means he waited more than 18 months to publicly disclose the investigation to his senatorial colleagues and the public. Bruno finally went public in December 2007 after his office began receiving questions about the probe from newspaper reporters.

(btw, the TU is simply wrong about the dates here. The story broke in December of 2006, not 2007.)

Anyone want to take bets on whether a trial actually takes place this November?

Paterson/Kennedy = Spitzer/Bruno?

by: robert.harding

Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 08:56:33 AM EST

But in a New York Times piece today, Nicholas Confessore and Danny Hakim compare Spitzer/Bruno to the Governor David Paterson/Caroline Kennedy saga.

An administration leaks damaging information about a political figure. The leak is denounced by the governor, who says that he had nothing to do with it.

This is what happened during the tenure of Gov. Eliot Spitzer, whose aides disseminated information about state-financed travel in 2007 by Joseph L. Bruno, then the Senate majority leader. This led to condemnation of Mr. Spitzer, the resignations of some of those aides, and charges that some of the aides had violated the Public Officers Law, which sets standards for state officials' conduct.

It is also the story of what happened nearly two weeks ago after Caroline Kennedy withdrew her name from consideration for Hillary Rodham Clinton's Senate seat.

A review of public comments and interviews with more than a dozen people involved in the process make clear that Gov. David A. Paterson's administration released confidential information about Ms. Kennedy and misled reporters about its significance as part of an orchestrated effort to discredit her after she withdrew. But the governor is unlikely to face the legal scrutiny or numerous investigations that Mr. Spitzer did, even though he has acknowledged that the information about Ms. Kennedy should not have been released.

The article goes on to highlight the Paterson/Kennedy controversy, which included a few claims involving Kennedy's personal life from long ago.

One of the administration's central claims to reporters was that Ms. Kennedy had, in the words of a person close to the governor, "a definite tax issue" and "a nanny problem" that "she didn't want to become public."

But that story was inaccurate. The governor and his aides now acknowledge that those issues - a tax lien of a few hundred dollars in 1994, and a lapsed visa for a foreign nanny who worked for Ms. Kennedy during the late 1980s - had been resolved years earlier and were never considered disqualifying during the vetting process.

I don't think Paterson/Kennedy compares to Spitzer/Bruno. But I do think that the Paterson/Kennedy saga has been damaging to Paterson. Smearing Caroline Kennedy was the worst thing that he and his administration could do. Whether she was qualified to become a U.S. senator or not we could have debated for a long time. But smearing her like the Paterson administration did was wrong on many levels.

Bruno Gets His Blago On

by: phillip anderson

Wed Jan 28, 2009 at 07:55:49 AM EST

The senator told Brian Taffe of Channel 9 repeatedly that he knew the difference between right and wrong, and that he had done nothing wrong legally, morally or ethically. Then, in a broken narrative with Brian, he emphasized how if he had abandoned the world of public service earlier, he easily could have made as much as he is accused of taking in inappropriate consulting fees. Also, he said that the opinions and views of someone in his position had real value. These were not exactly self-incriminating statements, but that he voiced them at all left me wondering if his idea of right and wrong is out there somewhere.

Now that's an argument that will keep Jesuits up late. But right from wrong is not the issue for Joe Bruno. It is legal vs. illegal. And he made reference to how easy it is, through a zealous prosecutor, to get a grand jury to indict even a ham sandwich. Well, if truth be told, for political corruption charges such as those he faces, it's not all that much harder to put that ham sandwich behind bars. Bruno doesn't sound like he understands the gravity of where he's at.

When he compared himself to Mother Teresa, that's when I realized there is a side of the senator we have rarely seen before: self-delusional. That is one bizarre comparison. The context was that he felt the standards used by the feds to indict him were such a stretch that they could have indicted her just as easily. On what charge he didn't say. I think he was just reaching for something absurd. Unfortunately, he found it.

He also seems to think the public will widely rally behind him because of his 32 years of public service and the many good works he directed toward this region. Dream on, Joe. Those were public dollars you were distributing, not your own, and you are about to learn how quickly people forget, and would rather believe the worst of you.

Mother Teresa, Joe? Really? This trial is going to be awesome.

DOJ's Full Press Release On Bruno Indictment

by: phillip anderson

Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 17:10:50 PM EST

Special Agent in Charge Pikus stated: "This complicated investigation has been conducted in a professional and thorough fashion, notwithstanding the significant difficulties in overcoming the lack of transparency in New York State government. The FBI will continue to root out public corruption within New York State government to ensure the integrity of the legislative process."

The whole thing is worth a read.

UPDATE: Jimmy Vielkind at the Politicker adds this from the press conference:

"The ability to understand the legislative process is difficult at best," said John Pikus, special agent in charge of the Albany division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "There are factors involved in which bills are passed, member items are approved, which never see the light of day. Many of you in the public have tried to get into that arena to see exactly where your money is going. And that, really, from our standpoint, from the F.B.I.'s standpoint, was the problem. We can subpoena. We can provide opportunities for individuals to come in and talk to us, but the legislative process was almost Byzantine."

You don't say...

Bruno Blames Everyone Else In The World For 8 Count Indictment

by: phillip anderson

Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 16:22:06 PM EST

Comedy gold from CapCon:

In the statement, a notably pale Bruno assailed the U.S. Attorney's office, the FBI, and former Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

Bruno listed and contrasted the investigations against him -  the three-year FBI investigation, as well as the effort by the Spitzer administration to use State Police to collect records on his use of the state aircraft.

He argued that the previous U.S. Attorney, Bush appointee Glen Suddaby, informed the FBI that there wasn't a case against him, the FBI "would not take no for an answer.

"After being hounded for three years. I am being indicted on a prosecutor's slight of hand. Because after years of effort, they cannot find one example of criminal activity or illegal intent," Bruno said.

Bruno said he is a "fighter" and that he would fight against the "fishing expedition" against him.

He then compared his situation to the prostitution scandal of former foe Spitzer.

"The political prosecutors gave him and his people a pass," but Bruno said prosecutors "invented a crime in order to get me."

"This is a man who has admitted to felonies, but no one is doing a single thing on that," said Bruno, referring to Spitzer.

"I ask the people of this state to give me the benefit of the doubt...I hope I have earned that and the presumption of innocence all of us as citizens deserve."

He called the charge of "theft of honest services" a contortion of federal statute.

To other elected officials, he said: "There is a frightening message...you too can be target practice with a statute."

"Even in the wake of this profoundly unfair prosecution, my years in the senate have all been worth it. Because all the good I believe I have been able to accomplish for my district and my state."

"After three years of cooperating with the investigation...and waiting. All the while, watching prosecutors turn a blind eye to the flagrant abuse of gubernatorial conduct."

"I want to get this case out from the cloak of secrecy....I want it to be in front of a jury, that is open to the public."

Bruno said the investigation is a "fishing expedition that smells really, really bad and stinks, to use plain english."

"I am going to fight this fight and we are going to be back together and there's going to be a number of things that happened here to bring daylight."

"I know in my heart that I did nothing wrong. I broke no laws."

"This is a trap that everyone in government because if they can indict me for what I have done...I am a business man, I'm not a lawyer. I have a right to earn a living. I did it legally."

I have a feeling that Bruno will eventually cut a deal and cooperate. I mean, he's facing serious time here. That could be a hugely positive thing for Albany and the rest of the state.

But, if he does indeed go full speed ahead with this thing, it could be way, way better than anything on TV.  

Uncle Joe Has Been A Very Naughty Boy

by: phillip anderson

Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 15:19:01 PM EST

A federal grand jury today indicted former state Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno on felony charges alleging he used his position to extract $3.2 million in private consulting fees from clients who sought to purchase his influence.

An 8-count indictment handed up today charges the 79-year-old Republican with corruption charges that carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Bruno pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in U.S. District Court in Albany and was released without bail.

In a 35-page indictment filed at noon, grand jurors asked Bruno to forfeit much of his fortune and assets for his alleged crimes.

...

The indictment lays out Bruno's alleged deceptions, such as not disclosing his dealings to ethics authorities. It describes "schemes" involving use of his public office to do business with labor unions, who he steered to Wright Investors Service, a Connecticut firm that paid him nearly $1.4 million from 1994 to 2006, and McGinn, Smith & Co., an Albany investment firm that paid Bruno $632,116 from 1993 to 2005. The firms ended up receiving investment advisory fees or brokerage fees paid by the union benefit funds.

People named in the indictment were Bruno's friends Leonard J. Fassler, Jared E. Abbruzzese and Russell C. Ball who paid Bruno hundreds of thousands of dollars for alleged consulting services, even though Bruno provided virtually no consulting.

In one case, Abbruzzese paid Bruno $80,000 for a nearly worthless horse raised by Bruno at his thoroughbred breeding business at his farm and home in Brunswick.

Here's a nice summary from the Business Journal

Federal prosecutors allege the scheme took place from 1993 to December 2006, a period that included Bruno's tenure as the Senate Majority Leader, one of the three most powerful positions in state government.

According to the indictment, during that time, Bruno was paid for services he provided to two companies and three individuals:

• Wright Investors' Service, an investment adviser in Milford, Conn.;

• McGinn, Smith & Co., an investment banking firm in Albany;

• Leonard J. Fassler, who was associated with Sage Alerting Systems, Inc., Microknowledge Inc., and other firms

• Russel C. Ball, who was assoicated with Roadway Contracting, Inc., and BB Gardner Management Corp.

• Jared E. Abbruzzese, who was associated with Communication Technology Advisors, LLC, and other firms.

The indictment alleges Bruno signed a written agreement with Wright Investors' Service on March 1, 1994, that paid him a fee for each client that opened an account at the firm as a result of a referral from Bruno. Wright paid Bruno a total of $1.3 million from 1994 to 2006.

Bruno allegedly contacted 16 labor unions on behalf of Wright suggesting the unions hire Wright. Bruno did this, the indictment alleges, while he "wielded power and influence" over the unions as the Senate Majority Leader.

In August 1998, Bruno became a part-time employee of Wright, but "routinely failed to disclose his status as an employee to union officials he contacted," as required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

A total of 11 unions that Bruno contacted during the time he worked on behalf of Wright became clients of the firm, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors allege Bruno tried to conceal the private work he did on behalf of Wright by falsely claiming his contacts with union officials had been disclosed to the "Senate" Ethics Committee. The indictment alleges Bruno had never asked for nor received an opinion from the Legislative Ethics Committee about the work he did for Wright.

Much more on this soon. The long and the short of it is that Uncle Joe appears to be pretty royally screwed. Unless he ends up cutting one hell of a deal, I don't see how he doesn't end up in prison.

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy...

Uncle Joe's pork

by: Exile on Ericsson St.

Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 14:11:59 PM EST

1) Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, $4.211 million (about $1 million more than Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver plans to personally allocate in this fiscal year).

2) Deputy Majority Leader Dean Skelos, $3.740 million (from Long Island, leader-in-waiting).

3) Sen. Tom Libous, $3.497 million (a Binghamton-area senator once considered a contender for Bruno's leadership post).

4) Sen. Owen Johnson, $3.276 million (chairs the Finance Committee).

5) Sen. Joe Robach, $2.550 million (a Rochester-area Democrat-turned-Republican who is one of the Senate minority's top targets this fall).

6) Sen. Thomas Morahan, $2.464 million (a Hudson Valley lawmaker who is the Senate's liaison to the executive branch).

7) Sen. Dale Volker, $2.446 million (a Western NY veteran lawmaker who recently said he thought someone connected to the State Police was spying on him during the Spitzer administration).

8) Sen. Serphin Maltese, $2.441 million (of Queens, the Democrats' top priority to oust).

9) Sen. Frank Padavan, $2.438 million (also from Queens, also in the crosshairs).

10) Sen. Cathy Young, $2.322 million (Western NY senator elected in a 2005 special election to fill the seat of the late Sen. Patricia McGee).

Obviously, there's no way to give pork back, but it will be interesting to see if Young, Robach, et al. start feeling the heat now that their benefactor is likely slammer-bound.  

Reading The Bruno Indictment

by: phillip anderson

Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 13:56:09 PM EST

It's interesting reading, to say the least. I've uploaded the PDF here, so you can take a look as well.

Happy hunting.

BREAKING: Joe Bruno Indicted On 8 Counts Of Public Corruption

by: phillip anderson

Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 12:53:44 PM EST

ALBANY -- A federal grand jury today indicted former state Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, accusing him of eight counts of public corruption.

...

Bruno is scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate at 1:30 p.m. today. Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew T. Baxter has scheduled a press conference for 2:30 p.m.

The 35-page indictment of Bruno was unsealed and filed in federal court sometime after noon.

Bruno, who reigned for years as one of the most powerful lawmakers in New York, is charged with using his office to deprive the public of the honest services of government.

Today's indictment marks the culmination of a three-year FBI investigation into the shadowy public and private dealings of the Brunswick Republican who rose through the ranks of state government and became one of the Capital Region's most iconic political leaders.

...

The impending conclusion of the 3-year-old investigation has stoked some speculation in federal law enforcement circles that the timing may be tied to the recent change of administration in Washington, D.C., as the Bush era ends and President Barack Obama revamps the Justice Department's leadership. Glenn T. Suddaby was the U.S. Attorney in New York's Northern District for most of the investigation. Suddaby recently was appointed a federal judge and his Justice Department post was filled by acting U.S. Attorney Andrew T. Baxter.

What are we going to do with you, Uncle Joe?

More soon.

Bruno to be Indicted -- with Rutnik angle?

by: Hudson

Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 11:59:24 AM EST

http://timesunion.com/AspStori...

A federal grand jury investigating former state Senate Majority Joseph L. Bruno is expected to vote today to indict Bruno on public corruption charges, according to numerous sources with knowledge of the case.

Grand jurors have assembled inside the federal courthouse in downtown Albany. Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew T. Baxter, who is based in Syracuse, arrived at Albany's federal building just after 10 a.m. carrying two large briefcases and an easel.

The work of the grand jury is secret; however, a possible press statement or press conference is being discussed by federal officials for later today.

And (further emphasizing how clumsily Paterson has handled the Senate seat process from start to finish) comes this reminder of a possible Gillibrand angle on the story from the Voice's Wayne Barret:

Bruno Investigation Extends to elder Daughter and SUNY Research Foundation

by: Andrew C. White

Sun Jan 04, 2009 at 14:40:21 PM EST

At second glance... one realizes that wherever the FBI turns it discovers yet one more area of Joe Bruno's life that needs investigating.

Today's Albany Times Union brings us the latest in the epic saga.

ALBANY - The FBI's investigation of former Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno has expanded to the Research Foundation of the State University of New York, according to sources familiar with the probe.

In particular, a knowledgeable source said, the FBI is probing the work activities of Susan M. Bruno, the elder daughter of the former Senate leader.

Most Awesome Headline Of The Day

by: phillip anderson

Tue Dec 02, 2008 at 08:55:40 AM EST

There's some great stuff in the article as well. I particularly loved this gem:

Joseph L. Bruno, New York's newest and perhaps most unlikely champion of government transparency, is searching for the right words.

"Sunlight, I guess?" Mr. Bruno said, trying to recall the name of a state Web site that publishes lobbying and campaign finance records. "Daylight, or something?"

But nothing tops this whopper:

"But I've always really been kind of on the leading edge of being open."

Be sure to read the whole thing. It's always great to start the day laughing.

Feds are still probing Boss Bruno

by: devtob

Sat Nov 29, 2008 at 00:30:45 AM EST

The feds aren't looking at that, though they should.

According to the Sunday Times Union, the feds are still calling people to testify before a grand jury in Albany, focusing on Bruno's alleged profiteering from horse-breeding deals.

More, below.  

Breaking: Joe Bruno Announces He Will Not Finish Out His Term

by: robinia

Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 12:10:38 PM EDT

The timing on this announcement seems-- like his last one-- organized to create as little a splash as possible: all of Albany is focused right now on what, exactly, Golisano is going to do (the news conferences appear to have been scheduled concurrently, although Golisano's conference time was announced last week, and Bruno's seemed pretty extemporaneous....).

Are the feds closing in? Is he ill?  Is he about to marry his next-door-neighbor and sometimes business associate, and wants some privacy?  Let us know if you hear or see anything that explains this moderately strange announcement.

SD-43: More Candidates For Bruno's Seat

by: phillip anderson

Mon Jun 30, 2008 at 10:24:21 AM EDT

Race for Bruno's seat still in flux

Former city Mayor Valerie Keehn is out. City Supervisor Joanne Yepsen and Michael Russo, an ex-local union leader, want in.

Saratoga County Democrats emerged from two days of meetings on Saturday with a different lineup for the 43rd District state Senate seat now held by retiring Sen. Joseph Bruno.

...

Russo, who now works as district officer for U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Greenport, said in a brief phone interview Saturday that he, too, started circulating petitions to join the race.

"I am strongly considering (a run)," he said.

He and Yepsen need 1,000 signatures each from enrolled Democrats in the district by July 10 to challenge the only Democrat officially in the race -- Rensselaer County Democrat Brian Premo of Brunswick -- in a September primary.

...

I'm under a lot of pressure to call a county meeting to reconvene and reconsider this race," Saratoga County Democratic Chairman Larry Bulman said. "We're not going to do that. We're just going to move forward and good Democrats are going to do what good Democrats are going to do."

I'm hearing that Russo is definitely in and should be formally announcing soon. That gives us a minimum of three Democrats running for Uncle Joe's seat, a very good sign. I had assumed that this seat would be a real tough nut to crack for Dems given that it was custom built by and for Joe Bruno as well as run by folks who owe the Bruno machine everything. The fact that we have Dems lining up to take this challenge on tells me that those on the ground see a real opportunity here.

I like that.