Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced charges Wednesday against former Liberal Party leader Raymond Harding in connection with an investigation into the state pension fund.

According to Cuomo, Harding received $800,000 in illegal fees on state pension deals as a reward for opening an Assembly seat for former State Comptroller Alan Hevesi's son, Andrew.

Cuomo charges that Harding helped the incumbent assemblyman get a six-figure job at an insurance company to vacate the seat.

"The more the scheme goes on, the more brazen people become, the more confident they become. You steal a little bit, you get away with it. You steal a little bit more. And that's what we see here. Now they went to an extreme -- let's get the comptroller's son an Assembly seat," said Cuomo.

The AG says Hevesi's son was unaware of the arrangement. Andrew Hevesi was elected to the Assembly in May 2005.

Harding was released on a bail deal that he must honor by April 22nd. Under that deal, he will pay a $100,000 bail bond and surrender his passport. He will also be restricted from traveling outside of New York and Massachusetts without approval from Cuomo's office.

Harding's attorney, David Frankel, says he will fight the charges.

"He is absolutely innocent of these charges, intends to fight them, and looks forward to maintaining his good name and reputation," said Frankel.

Political insiders say Harding had his hand on the levers of power and was close with former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

"If you wanted to get something done, you would ask Ray Harding for help. That help is never out of the goodness of one's heart, there is always something in return and we are beginning to see what it was," said Hunter College Professor Kenneth Sherrill.

"I feel sorry for him and his family. I can't give you any insights into the background of it," said Giuliani.

The attorney general also announced that hedge fund manager Barrett Wissman has plead guilty to charges related to a pay-to-play scheme. In addition, Cuomo said Wissman will pay $12 million in forfeiture and penalties.

The charges stem from an investigation into allegations of pay-to-play corruption under the former state comptroller.

Harding is due back in court on July 14th.