Joe Bruno Indicted

It's another Republican scandal - this time in New York State. I was never introduced to the man, but I have been in his presence and I have heard him speak. I always thought he was a fairly nasty guy, but that was just me.

From Wikipedia...

Joseph L. Bruno (born April 8, 1929) is an American businessman and Republican politician. He was the Temporary President of the New York State Senate and its majority leader.

On June 23, 2008, Bruno announced that he would not seek reelection to the State Senate in 2008. On June 24, 2008, Bruno stepped down from the positions of Senate Majority Leader and "temporary president of the senate", but remained a State Senator. On July 18, 2008, Bruno resigned from the New York State Senate.

Under the New York State Constitution, the "temporary president of the senate" performs the duties of the lieutenant governor when that office is vacant, or its office-holder is out of state.^[1] He represented the 43rd New York State Senate District.

On January 23, 2009, Bruno was indicted on eight counts of corruption, including mail and wire fraud.^[2]

And from the Albany Times-Union...

A federal grand jury indicted former state Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno on felony charges Friday, alleging he used his elected position to extract $3.2 million in private consulting fees from clients who sought to use his influence.

A defiant Bruno, who is the sole person charged in the 8-count indictment, criticized the U.S. Attorney's office and an ''overzealous'' FBI for conducting what Bruno characterized as a ''politicized'' criminal investigation of his business dealings. During a brief news conference following his appearance in front of a federal magistrate, Bruno vowed to go to trial to fight the charges as he accused federal authorities of conducting ''a three-year fishing expedition that . . . stinks.''