Controversial Queens GOP operative John Haggerty has officially been indicted by Manhattan DA Cy Vance for stealing $1.1 million, according to NY1 news:
"A top campaign operative involved in Mayor Michael Bloomberg's 2008 re-election bid was charged today with stealing approximately $1.1 million in missing campaign funds.
Veteran Queens Republican leader John Haggerty faces charges of grand larceny, money laundering and falsifying business records.
Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance said that Haggerty used the money to create a sham election company that was supposed to encourage voters in northern Queens to get to the polls.
The funds included $750,000 that Bloomberg gave to the New York State Independence Party."
Haggerty previously declined a plea deal that would have required him to serve up to one year in jail. How many other people will be caught up in this investigation is unclear, but may include Independence Party head Frank MacKay and Haggerty's younger brother Bart, who serves as Chief of Staff for NY City Councilman Eric Ulrich.
Bart Haggerty was reported to be the recipient of $600,000 of the $1.1 million alleged to have been stolen by his brother. Bart was working as a paid field coordinator for Bloomberg in 2009, earning $7500/month, according to campaign finance filings.
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written by Robert Hornak , June 14, 2010
NY1 just reported that Haggerty could get up to 20 years just on the grand larceny count.
So, in the Haggerty-Ragusa fight I guess we can now safely say that Ragusa won.
written by Quickjustice , June 14, 2010
Were the Haggertys thieves? Apparently, Mayor Bloomberg thought he was paying for actual services. I await the indictment of the Working Families Party and UFT for their payments to ACORN.
written by Frank Ammendolea , June 14, 2010
This is a sad day for Republicans - and anyone who follows politics in general. No matter which side of the Republican divide people found themselves on (Haggerty or Ragusa), we like to think that both sides are at least honest (i.e. not petty crooks) despite the political machinations that go on.
I would hasten to add that an indictment is not a conviction, but it does not look good for Mr. Haggerty. Another tragic aspect of this is that at one time, his father was a respected Queens County Republican party chairman and attorney. Sad that a family that once enjoyed such political prominence may now only be remembered for a shameful and criminal act.
If he is guilty, let justice be served. But this is nothing to celebrate, as it shows that when it comes to political corruption, that is where "bipartisanship" truly flourishes.
