Posted on 10/28/2006 1:49:23 AM PDT by Alex1977
Pataki appoints special prosecutor
Albany — Gov. George Pataki appointed a special prosecutor yesterday to kick off an extraordinary process that could lead to embattled state Comptroller Alan Hevesi being forced from office for using a state worker as his wife's private driver.
Pataki asked David Kelley, former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to help him decide within a week whether to make the unprecedented request of the Republican-controlled state Senate to vote for Hevesi's removal.
"It is an extraordinary act for officials to overturn an election of a statewide elected official after a vote by the people of New York, and obviously it is something that, if used at all, has to be used cautiously and with great, great care," Pataki said.
Regardless of what happens, Hevesi's name will remain on the Nov. 7 ballot as the Democratic candidate for state comptroller. Should he win and then resign or be forced from office, it would be up to the Democrat-dominated Legislature to pick a successor.
Top state Democrats and Republicans in recent days have called for Hevesi's resignation.
The state Ethics Committee on Monday issued a scathing report that found reasonable cause that Hevesi violated state law, intentionally using his position to gain unwarranted privileges.
Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the gubernatorial front-runner, withdrew his endorsement of the fellow Democrat on Thursday.
If Pataki recommends his removal, Hevesi would be tried before the Senate. His removal would require a two-thirds vote by that body, or 41 members.
"This is a sad day for New Yorkers," Pataki said. "We have to have confidence "¦ in our elected officials."
Hevesi's use of a state worker as his wife's driver was first revealed last month by his Republican challenger, Chris Callaghan, the former Saratoga County treasurer. Until recently, Callaghan's candidacy had drawn little attention, but Hevesi's scandal-tainted tenure now threatens to derail a Democratic sweep of statewide offices Nov. 7.
A Marist poll released yesterday showed Hevesi's lead rapidly shrinking, with 50 percent to Callaghan's 38 percent. Only a week ago, the same poll showed Hevesi leading 62 percent to 22 percent.
Public career unravels Sept. 21: Chris Callaghan, a Republican hoping to unseat state Comptroller Alan Hevesi, accuses Hevesi of using state worker Nick Aquifreda as a personal chauffeur for his wife. Hevesi admits using the employee, who earns a $61,163-a-year state salary, as a driver for his ailing wife and says he mistakenly forgot to reimburse the state.
Sept. 28: Hevesi publicly apologizes for using Aquifreda as a chauffeur for the past three years and says he will repay the state $82,688, a figure since criticized as too low.
Oct. 12: Albany County District Attorney David Soares confirms his office is investigating. A grand jury has since been convened.
Oct. 23: The state Ethics Commission issues a scathing 26-page report that finds "there is reasonable cause to believe that Mr. Hevesi knowingly and intentionally used his position as New York State Comptroller to secure unwarranted privileges for himself and his wife, and in doing so, pursued a course of conduct that raises suspicion among the public that he likely engaged in acts that violated the public trust."
Oct. 24: State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno calls for Hevesi's resignation.
Oct. 26: Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the gubernatorial front runner, withdraws his endorsement of Hevesi, a fellow Democrat.
Oct. 27: Gov. George Pataki cuts short a White House-sponsored trip to Hungary to consider the Hevesi scandal. He appoints a special prosecutor to kick off a process that could lead the state Senate to oust Hevesi.
It's unbelievable (/sarc): NYers would still vote for Hevesi!
Hevesi is a typical liberal dirtbag who thinks it's funny to advocate killing the President.
I hope Hevesi goes down. Hard.
):^(
I forgot that murder was a crime.
he should of hired a wet back to drive his wife if that wasn/t up to her standards all he had to do is go back to the corner he got the first one from and get another they work cheap
Culture of corruption ping
My congratulations to Hevesi, and to Mrs. Hevesi as well. He calculated correctly that he could get away with it. Cheers!
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