The once-proud and fiery Pedro Espada, Jr. has now pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion. That charge carries a sentence of 78-87 months.
Monthly archives for October, 2012
Manhattan Surrogate Judge Nora Anderson Gets Wrist-Slap For Wholesale Campaign Finance Fraud
The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct has censured Manhattan Surrogate Judge Nora Anderson, notwithstanding the fact that she admits to intentionally disguising $250,000 in improper contributions to her judicial election campaign.
Back in April 2010, Judge Anderson faced criminal prosecution by Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance for lying on her campaign disclosure forms regarding the source of $250,000. Under New York law, individual donations at the time were capped at about $33,000, but a candidate could donate unlimited amounts to their campaign.
The money at issue was a “gift” from her mentor/boss lawyer Seth Rubenstein (who just so happened to be an active practitioner in Manhattan Surrogate’s Court). Moreover, the express purpose of Rubenstein’s gift was to help Judge Anderson’s primary campaign, which was faltering badly at the time. But Judge Anderson did not disclose that Rubenstein was the source of the funds. Instead, she claimed on her campaign disclosure forms that the money was a loan and donation to herself. Under New York law, it is a separation criminal violation to lie on on such forms (filing of a false instrument).
In the criminal trial, Judge Michael Obus dismissed 8 of the 10 charges against Judge Anderson on jurisdictional grounds, and the jury acquitted her and Rubenstein on the remaining two charges.
People v. Anderson (Oct. 30, 2009)
That was not the end, however. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct also decided to investigate Judge Anderson. Here is the Commission’s report:
NYSCJC Determination on Judge Nora Anderson
Apparently, the Commission bought Judge Anderson’s “ignorance of the law” slash “babe in the woods” slash “reliance on others” defense. As any first year law student could tell you, ignorance of the law is not an excuse. It’s a pretty sad state of affairs when a State Judge can get away with such nonsense, particularly when the violations in question far outstripped the campaign contribution limits and without doubt swayed the election in Judge Anderson’s favor.
Ugh.
For those interested, here is a little more background on the story:
- New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct
- Nora Anderson Gives Grounds for Investigation of Election Law Violation, New York Daily News (Sept. 15, 2008)
- Dead on Arrival: Indicted Surrogate-Elect Cannot Take Bench, New York Daily News (Dec. 11, 2008)
- Judge Acquitted in Campaign Finance Trial, New York Times (Apr. 1, 2010)
- Judge Nora Anderson’s Money Pit is Full of Ethical Violations, New York Daily News (Oct. 13, 2008)
- Judge’s Trial Raises Thorny Election Law Issues Concerning Gifts, New York Times (Mar. 19, 2010)
- Judge Nora Gavel-Nized, New York Post (March 20, 2010)
- Manhattan Surrogate Judge Nora Anderson Admits Lies but Stays on Bench, New York Daily News (Oct. 11, 2012)
- Why the Manhattan Surrogate’s Court Judge Matters, New York Observer (May 19, 2008)
Four NY Politicians Named in “Most Corrupt” by CREW
Congratulations to Rep. Tim Bishop (R. NY), Rep. Michael Grimm (R. NY), Rep. Gregg Meeks (D. NY) and Rep. Edolphus Towns (D. NY), who all made Crew’s 2012 list of Top 10 “Most Corrupt” Members of Congress. Yay!
Not really sure how they missed Rangel here; and Bishop’s improprieties seem like small potatoes.
Queens Councilman Dan Halloran Faces Possible Criminal Probe into Campaign Finances
Another day, another NY politician in the crosshairs of a possible criminal probe.
DA Eyes Halloran Finance Flubs, New York Daily News (Oct. 8, 2012)
Never Heard of Stanley Schlein?
“Power Broker.” “Judge-Maker.” Those are the words the New York Times use to describe Stanely Schlein in a recent article that raises questions about Schlein’s involvement in a real estate development deal in the Bronx.
According to the Times, 17 years ago Schlein told the City that he’d develop the site, and the City awarded him and his partners that right without any competitive bidding, much less any questions as to his qualifications as a developer. In the intervening years, the City either turned away other developers or referred them to Schlein as the rights-owner with whom they’d have to negotiate. Now, after all that time, Schlein stands to make an unspecified “bundle” as a real development company that partnered with him is about to break ground on the project.
So, who is Stanley Schlein? Well, let’s just say that he’s one of those highly-connected insider-lawyers who make a handsome living by greasing the skids of NYC politics — i.e., lobbying and lawyering for NY Pols and those who need access to those Pols to get approval for City contracts.
How did he get so connected? Easy, he made his name in Bronx politics as an election law lawyer who guided the party favorites onto ballots while making life extremely difficult for challengers on election law technicalities. In other words, he helped get a lot of judges and politicians get and stay in elected office. In turn, they awarded him with lots of patronage gigs (like court-appointed legal guardianships) and his clients with City contracts.
In July 2005, the New York Times ran this profile of Schlein, pointing out his myriad political connections to such NY luminaries as George Steinbrenner, Al Sharpton, Mayor Bloomberg, former Bronx Democratic Bosses Stanley Friedman and Patrick J. Cunningham, as well as former Mayors David Dinkins and Rudy Giuliani.
Mayor Koch first appointed Schlein to serve on the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board, and every mayor up to Bloomberg reappointed him. Then, the Times’ latest piece reports:
A few years back, the city Conflicts of Interest Board fined Mr. Schlein $15,000 for using his city office as a de facto law office, making more than 2,000 phone calls related to his private business. Mr. Schlein resigned in 2006.
Mr. Schlein also served as a court-appointed fiduciary, a lucrative billet open to loyal Democratic Party worthies. That too ended badly. In 2006, the Office of Court Administration barred him from taking new assignments, as he had apparently badly handled the finances of the infirm and the elderly.
Here a few other past articles for those interested in digging further:
- No-bid deal could enrich political fixer, Mott Haven Herald (Aug. 23, 2012)
- Witness Says Councilman Led Him to a Contractor, New York Times (Nov. 15, 2011)
- Why is Eric Schneiderman Using Pedro Espada’s Political Fixer? Village Voice (July 11, 2010)
- Maria Baez “Goes Ghetto” on Election Power Lawyer Stanley Schlein, New York Daily News (Aug. 11, 2008)
- Bronx Democrats Face Internal Crisis, New York Times (Sept. 18, 2008)
- Stanley Schlein Rides Again, Village Voice (Dec. 24, 2008)
- The Bronx Bomber, Village Voice (Apr. 25, 2006)
- Recent Allies Pedro Espada, Stanley Schlein, had Fistfight, New York Daily News (June 21, 2009)
- Powerhouse Political Operative if Fined for Improper Practices, New York Sun (Jan. 24, 2008)
- Back-Room Bench: Politics and the Courts, a Bronx Judiciary Awash in Patronage, All Legal, New York Times (Jan. 4, 2004)
- Bronx Ballot: An Insurgent’s Odyssey, New York Times (Oct. 18, 1990)