Posted on 04/02/2013 5:11:06 AM PDT by dead
State Sen. Malcolm Smith and city Councilman Dan Halloran were arrested this morning on charges they plotted to rig this year’s mayoral election through fraud and bribes.
The pols allegedly formed an alliance built on cash payments and fraud to get Smith — one of the state’s top Democrats — placed on the GOP mayoral ballot, sources said.
FBI agents arrested them both at their Queens homes shortly after 6 a.m.
“I have no idea,” Republican Halloran, in handcuffs, told a Post reporter when asked if he knew why he was being arrested.
“I’m sure the truth will come out once I have an opportunity to find out what’s going on.”
Smith would not say anything as he was hauled off.
The FBI declined to comment.
Smith was trying to buy off Republican leaders because he needed the party’s support in at least three boroughs in order to run as a GOP candidate without even changing his own party affiliation, the sources said.
“It’s incredible,” a source said of the alleged plot.
To get on the GOP ballot, Smith allegedly enlisted Halloran, a Republican, to set up meetings with party leaders and negotiate thousands of dollars in bribes. The money was masked as payments for legal and accounting services, sources said.
Halloran allegedly collected thousands in bribes for himself along the way, the sources said.
He is separately charged with taking bribes from a consultant in return for up to $80,000 in City Council discretionary funding.
Read more: State Sen. Malcolm Smith and City Councilman Dan Halloran face charges in alleged bribe plot to get Smith on GOP mayoral ballot - NYPOST.com http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/bribing_his_way_onto_the_ballot_3XFvV67oWZHFo7bVdoCkcO#ixzz2PJ6KzcHC
(Excerpt) Read more at newyorkpost.com ...
Why is the FBI involved and not a state law enforcement agency?
This is Soviet era arrest on trumped up charges of political enemies by the Democrats
Oh, boy...
Just had an issue here in Florida where I thought the same thing.... and then found out the State Attorney’s brother was involved too. If the State chased it everyone would have been tipped off. They looked to already be protecting them. Will be interesting when all the details come out.
I’m Shocked !!!!
Wire fraud is a federal crime.
People are always asking for bipartisanship, then you give it to them...
No having to guess the party here, huh?
I’m shocked to hear that there are Republicans in NY!
It’s a bipartisan crime.
I went to school with Halloran. He is a very weird guy, but I would not have thought that he was corrupt. I am fairly confident that there is a lot more to this story.
Yes, they are the Democrats’ enemies, but how do you know they are trumped up charges? Each of these guys is a slimeball within his own party.
I'm interested in any evidence you can cite.
Two thoughts:
1. Bribery and election-fixing may be frowned upon in Judeo-Christian cultures, but are permitted by Pagan religions. STOP THE RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION OF DAN HALLORAN!
2. Malcolm Smith may be a liberal Democrat and a crook, but his would be the least embarrassing GOP NYC mayoral nomination in over 15 years.
(BTW, my tongue was firmly planted in my cheek when I wrote the *first* statement.)
They both have extremely “checkered” pasts, described as the article goes on. Not the most well-scrubbed kids on the block.
Smith is one of the Democrats caucusing with the Senate Republicans.
The Post has already done an expose on one guy and his nonprofit, the other was already being investigated for bid rigging. And the first guy was essentially a traitor to his party, by plotting to put the other party in power as long as he got a cut of it. (The GOP has plenty of experience with this type on the other side.)
Accepting bribes to place someone on the ballot...the trickle down effect from the presidential elections.
Who was plotting to "put the other party in power"?
Savino, Tabone, Halloran or Smith?
Which one of the four had the expose done on his nonprofit?
Which one of the four was investigated for bid rigging?
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