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Press Release

Statement Of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara On The Federal Corruption Charges Unsealed Against New York State Senator Malcolm Smith, New York City Council Member Daniel Halloran, And Four Others

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York

“Today’s charges demonstrate, once again, that a show-me-the-money culture seems to pervade every level of New York government. The complaint describes an unappetizing smorgasbord of graft and greed involving six officials who together built a corridor of corruption stretching from Queens and the Bronx to Rockland County and all the way up to Albany itself. As alleged, Senator Malcolm Smith tried to bribe his way to a shot at Gracie Mansion – Smith drew up the game plan and Councilman Halloran essentially quarterbacked that drive by finding party chairmen who were wide open to receiving bribes. After the string of public corruption scandals that we have brought to light, many may rightly resign themselves to the sad truth that perhaps the most powerful special interest in politics is self-interest. We will continue pursuing and punishing every corrupt official we find, but the public corruption crisis in New York is more than a prosecutor’s problem.”

U.S. v. Malcolm Smith, et al. Complaint

Updated May 15, 2015

Press Release Number: 13-109