Ex-New York Senate leader corruptly helped son get paid, jury told

[Little Tich]

Source: Yahoo! News / Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former leader of the New York state Senate strong-armed three companies to pay his son over $300,000, knowing that his position to influence policy crucial to their businesses meant "they couldn't say no," a federal prosecutor said on Tuesday.

Dean Skelos, a Republican, sought to corruptly direct commissions and jobs to his son, Adam, to "line the pockets of the Skelos family," prosecutor Tatiana Martins said at the start of their trial in Manhattan federal court.

"This case is about the age-old tale of the abuse of political power for personal greed," Martins said in her opening statement.

But Robert Gage, the politician's attorney, countered that while Dean Skelos, 67, supported his son as any father would, he never engaged in any quid pro quo to direct money to his son.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/ex-york-senate-leader-corruptly-helped-son-paid-224125348.html

[Lurks Often]

1. Corruption among NY politicians is bi-partisan

"In the past 12 years, 43 elected state officials in New York have been accused of misdeeds" Link:

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2015/01/troubled_ny_politicians_a_list_of_arrests_scandals_misdeeds_and_controversies.html

[Historic NY]

2. They seem to be getting whacked quicker these days.

[eggplant]

3. We get bored with them quicker.

Every time I drive past Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, I have a good chuckle.