Monday, June 28, 2010

The Carl Kruger Federal Investigation


The Kruger Show
The politics of a federal investigation when your a corrupt pol

Make No Comments
"What Investigation" when asked by a reporter on the floor of the senate

Hire a good criminal lawyer who understand how to control the press
Kruger hired Benjamin Brafman

Have a government flack spin positive for you
"Mr. Shafran (Senate flack) suggested that Mr. Kruger was the “victim of an influence-peddling scam” by Mr. Levitis."

Brooklyn Senator a Focus of Federal Corruption Inquiry
Amassed the Senate’s largest campaign account. In transcripts of recorded conversations with the confidential informant, Mr. Levitis solicits a $3,000 payment, saying he will pass on $2,000 to an aide to Mr. Kruger, Jason Koppel, and keep the rest. * Kruger asked us to host gig, eatery's lawyer says (DN) * Aide-de-$camp The fed's pay-to-play probe into state Sen. Carl Kruger also extends to whether his top aide traded political favors in exchange for campaign contributions *


Will Rat Koppel Rat?
Jason Koppel, the Brooklyn Democrat's longtime chief of staff and campaign treasurer, is also a key target in the two-year investigation into alleged official misconduct by Kruger, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Koppel is one of the state Legislature's highest-paid aides, racking up a $162,442 annual salary. Levitis was caught on audiotape on April 14, 2009, telling a federal informant that the informant needed to pay off a public official's staff member -- who sources said is Koppel -- to get assistance on an upcoming business inspection.



How Federal Investigations Work

The feds unlike local DA's who almost never prosecute political crime look to get underbosses like Koppel and Sammy the Bull to turn and implicate their bosses. That is how they lock in the conviction of the big guys like John Gotti . Experienced lawyers like Brafman know this and use this understanding to spin for their clients with a clueless press Lawyer reveals senator cleared Attorney says veteran Democrat Carl Kruger "not a target" of feds* wcbs880: BROOKLYN: Lawyer: NY Senator Cleared in Corruption Probe http://bit.ly/c0coD9 * Kruger graft-rap nix (NYP)



A Three Amigos Comeback? Hiram's back! Ousted pol runs for Assembly






Krugerspeak Says A Lot

Kruger claimed ignorance when approached by a Post reporter, shaking his head and saying, "I didn't see the story" before darting into a members-only Senate lounge. True News Has More Krugerspeak - Carl Kruger unplugged

Judge sends Bruno's trial to appeals court for decision (DN) * Already indicted City Councilman Larry Seabrook now slapped with lawsuit from law firm (DN)



The Carl Kruger Investigation Continues
Will Kruger join former Queens Assemblymen Brian McLaughlin and Anthony Seminerio and Bronx ex-Sen. Efrain Gonzalez behind bars? Another Albany stinker (NYP Ed) * Dem AG hopefuls all say no way to Hiram's bidMore on The Carl Kruger Federal Investigation (TN)