Court documents filed this week suggest that at least some of the nine people arrested in a sweeping corruption probe last month may be looking to plead out their cases rather than face a federal trial. All of the arrests were of individuals with ties to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, including a former longtime aide, Joe Percoco, who Cuomo once described as his "father's third son." State House Reporter Zack Fink has more.
On Monday, the defendants in the latest Albany corruption case were due in federal court, including longtime former Gov. Andrew Cuomo aide Joe Percoco. The men were arrested last month and charged with bribery and bid-rigging stemming from their involvement in Cuomo's upstate development projects including what is known as the "Buffalo Billion."
But the court appearance was delayed 30 days, and court documents filed this week say it's because resolutions in the cases may be forthcoming, in other words U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara may be trying to negotiate a plea deal.
"We will see what Preet has," said NY1 contributor Gerson Borerro. "And we will see if there is an actual deal going on. You can put anything into proof. Let's see what they actually have on paper."
In court documents, Judge Kevin Nathaniel Fox wrote:
"It is further found that counsel for the government have been engaged, and continue to be engaged in, discussions concerning possible dispositions in this case with cousel for the defendants."
Attorneys for both Percoco and one of the other defendants, Alain Kalyoyeros, insist that no plea bargain talks are taking place.
But it's not unusual for defendants to entertain plea offers. When former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was set to begin his trial last year, he was sent a plea deal by prosecutors, but never responded. Silver was ultimately convicted.
With an unprecedented level of corruption in Albany these past two years, Cuomo is pushing for a Democratic majority in the state Senate to try and pass meaningful ethics reform. He spoke exclusively to TWC News NY1 Tuesday night.
"On the issue of ethics, I need Democratic votes," Cuomo said. "And I need Democratic Senators. Because the Republican Senate has been unable to do it thus far. And that is what this election is about for me."
Cuomo and the state legislature have done several incarnations of ethics reform the last six years, but they have never tackled the issue of limiting the outside income of lawmakers. That is because, Cuomo says, Senate Republicans have refused to go along with it, which is why he is now campaigning for a Democratic majority in the Senate.