Democrat Councilman Jokes About His Felony Drug Conviction

Mental Recession ^ | 02/15/2012 | Rusty

[rustyweiss74]

Kevin McGrath, who currently sits on the Troy City Council, testified yesterday at the upstate New York voter fraud trial, that he was concerned about running for public office because of his history of substance abuse, and 'the fact that he is a convicted felon'.

These days it seems, McGrath is far less concerned about public perception, at one point cracking a joke about his lack of drug-peddling business savvy - a comment that forced him to apologize to the judge.

During his testimony, McGrath stated that he was not convicted of distributing 220 lbs. of pot, but rather, he was involved with less than 10 lbs, or 100 kg. Which led him to deadpan this joke - "I wasn't too good. Didn't make much of a profit." The comment prompted an apology for Judge Pulver. Apparently, making light of a serious crime doesn't sit well in Pulver's courtroom.

McGrath's joke prompted a tweet from the former Mayor of Troy, Harry Tutunjian, who is attending the trial as an observer.

So now a current city councilman can joke about not having made a profit selling drugs? He plead guilty to a federal felony #ballotfraud -- Harry4Troy (@Harry4Troy)

Indeed, McGrath did plead guilty to a federal felony. On a blog called Talespin, Record reporter Jim Franco explains:

Well, now we know about the mysterious arrests that have been the subject of a sporadic, if not intense, whisper campaign about Kevin McGrath, D-District 1.

On the stand yesterday, McGrath said he was convicted on federal charges of conspiring to sell pot some 14 years ago. Initially it was said in court there was 100 kilograms involved but today he said it was more like 10 pounds. He also had a criminal mischief conviction thrown in and two drinking related convictions.