"F You...Pay Me!"
Posted on 08/12/2009 7:43:59 AM PDT by Born Conservative
FBI agents have questioned actor Paul Sorvino about his dealings with Robert C. Cordaro, the former Lackawanna County commissioner who steered $500,000 from the county into the production of "The Trouble with Cali," a movie Mr. Sorvino shot in Scranton three years ago but hasn't finished.
Mr. Sorvino, who said Monday post-production editing is continuing on the film, said the agents wanted to know whether Mr. Cordaro personally benefited from his relationship with Mr. Sorvino. It is a federal crime for elected officials to enrich themselves while in office.
Mr. Sorvino, in a telephone interview, was initially reluctant to discuss his meeting with the FBI, which he said happened about a year ago at a location he could not recall.
"Well I don't know if I can talk about this," Mr. Sorvino said. "I told them what I know, which was absolutely nothing."
"He received no funds, no favors from me," Mr. Sorvino said.
Mr. Cordaro did not return a phone call seeking comment.
"They asked me the question," Mr. Sorvino said, referring to whether Mr. Cordaro received anything in exchange for the half million dollars the county gave Mr. Sorvino to help the actor make his movie debut as a director.
"I told them not one penny, no consideration, no favor," Mr. Sorvino said. "He didn't even get a dinner."
It was the other way around, Mr. Sorvino said: "He bought me dinner."
"There was never anything of that nature whatsoever," Mr. Sorvino said. "I can't do that."
Mr. Sorvino said Mr. Cordaro received no trips or "fees" from him.
Mr. Sorvino's is the first public confirmation that FBI agents have inquired specifically about the dealings of Mr. Cordaro. Previously, county Commissioners A.J. Munchak and Michael Washo have confirmed being interviewed by the FBI but declined to detail the conversations.
Documents for a grand jury have been subpoenaed from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and the Lackawanna County Multi-Purpose Stadium Authority from the years of 2004 to 2008, when Mr. Munchak and Mr. Cordaro managed the county. In April, the U.S. attorney's office subpoenaed Lackawanna County for financial documents related to Mr. Cordaro, including copies of all payments made to Mr. Cordaro.
Mr. Sorvino said he could not provide an estimate when "The Trouble with Cali" movie might be completed, the first step in any chance the county has in seeing its money, which has been a long running concern of Mr. Washo.
Mr. Sorvino's daughter, Amanda Sorvino, who wrote the script, predicted it will wrap either this winter or next spring.
Ms. Sorvino pointed to a new trailer for the movie on the Internet as proof that the post-production process is gaining traction. (View the trailer with this story at thetimes-tribune.com).
"It's in the editing room right now," she said. She said her father has hired "amazing editors." One of the things holding up the film, Ms. Sorvino said, is a problem in a "big scene" that may have to be cut or undergo "fancy editing" or be entirely re-shot, a costly proposition.
While the editing continues in California, Mr. Washo says he's not banking on the county's money showing up anytime soon.
"There's no evidence of a signed contract," Mr. Washo said, adding Mr. Cordaro "handled the whole thing."
"Years have passed and there's no final product," Mr. Washo said.
"I think everyone is disappointed by what happened here, especially the taxpayers," Mr. Washo said. "Quite frankly a lot of people are outraged and they should be."
Mr. Sorvino said he signed a contract with the county and doesn't understand why Mr. Washo says otherwise.
You have to remember they (the county) are partners," Mr. Sorvino said. He said the county owns more than a third of the film.
"If all goes well they will make money," Mr. Sorvino said. "The nature of movies is you hope they will make money."
Amanda Sorvino said people who question why it is taking so long for the movie to be completed don't understand the film making process.
"I know my father has the best of intentions," she said. She said her father has put more of his own money into the project to get it finished.
Mr. Washo is maintaining a wait-and-see attitude.
"I'm not going to react to this until there is a finished product out there, which results in the return of taxpayer dollars to the county's treasury."
"F You...Pay Me!"
Sorvino is a good actor, but is a die hard lefty.
His daughter Mira is hot.
If Pauly moved slow, it was because Pauly didn’t have to move for anybody.
That’s one point in his favor ;-)
Best Mob movie, ever.
“Sorvino is a good actor, but is a die hard lefty.”
Excepting his support for the NRA, of course.
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