Sunday, April 3, 2011

HaggertyGate and Indpendence Party




Prosecution Seeks to Focus Trial on Election Aide, Not the Mayor (NYT)

 

A Game of Chicken: Will Bloomberg's Secrets Come Out Or Will There Be A Deal Before the Trial

Mike courts trouble Mayor to testify in elex aide's steal case(NYP)

Bloomberg and former Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey will testify in former campaign aide John Haggerty's Sept. 12 trial, the Post reports, and Haggerty's defense team may also call First Deputy Mayor Patti Harris and campaign manager Bradley Tusk


Queens GOP version of Hatfield-McCoy feud

From City Hall:

The Queens Republican Party paid for a mailer suggesting the brother of indicted campaign operative John Haggerty was involved in a scheme to steal $1 million from Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Bart Haggerty is facing a Republican district leader primary challenge in the 28th Assembly District from Patrick Gallagher, the son of former Council Member Dennis Gallagher, who has the backing of the Queens Republican leadership.

The party paid for the negative mailer – which suggests Bart Haggerty was involved in his brother’s alleged scheme - that recently landed in mailboxes in Forest Hills, Queens.

The Haggerty brothers have long sought to overthrow Ragusa and are actively supporting Ognibene, while Dennis Gallagher is a Ragusa ally. Gallagher himself resigned from office in disgrace in 2008 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor sex abuse charges.

Ognibene said going after Bart Haggerty was completely out of bounds.

“Bart Haggerty has never, ever been accused of anything improper in his life,” Ognibene said.

A spokesman for Ragusa declined to comment, saying the mailer speaks for itself.

Bloomberg’s money has been a centerpiece of the battle for control of the party. Ognibene says he is running against Ragusa in part because the current chair failed to secure enough money from Bloomberg when the mayor was seeking the Republican ballot line in 2009.

“It is not our job to extort money from people,” Ragusa replied.


There's a pathetic bunch of hacks in the GOP. In the Democratic party, too, but the GOP wins the prize. Is this the best they can come up with?


True News April 3, 2011
  Is Someone Trying to Use Blackmail to Stop A Trial By Dropping An Affair Story in the Daily News?
True News March 31, 2011

 Is Someone Trying to Send the Mayor A Message Trough the Daily News Gossip Column Gatecrasher? 

From Today's Daily News Gatecrasher
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Ronald Zweibel has revised his recent decision about former Bloomberg campaign adviser John Haggerty. In a March 14 ruling requiring Haggerty to stand trial on charges he stole $1.1 million from Hizzoner's 2009 campaign, Zweibel raised eyebrows when he bluntly wrote that "the evidence of guilt, whether admissible in trial or not, is overwhelming." The line was shortened in a number of press reports to "the evidence of guilt ... is overwhelming," which read like a pretty decisive stance in advance of a trial. Perhaps Zweibel regretted his initial exuberance, because, while reporting our story on Haggerty in Wednesday's column, we learned that the judge has since issued an amended decision, which softens his original assertion. The line, which we've truncated to spare you a lot of legalese, now reads: "the evidence of guilt ... is certainly legally sufficient, if not overwhelming, based upon this Court's review of the Grand Jury presentation." * before the scandal, got $100K to local GOP. [via @'s dan janison]


True News March 15, 2011

Operative awaits ruling in NYC mayor's money case(WSJ)

John Haggerty charged with bilking New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg out of more than $1 million may be set to get an answer on his bid to have the case thrown out. Haggerty Trial Set For 6/1  Considering the political nature of the case, the judge also issued a gag order to both sides, barring them from talking to the press.  * Judge slaps down Haggerty in Bloomberg campaign cash swipe case (NYP) * John Haggerty, ex-Bloomberg aide accused of stealing $1M mayor's campaign, ordered to stand trial (DN) John Haggerty: Gag order (WSJ)


True News March 9, 2011
Why Was the Mayor's Campaign Involvement?
The Independence Party was promised an extra $100,000 from the mayor campaign as "icing on the cake," to do the Haggerty money transfer.  From listening to the judge, DA and press you never know the Bloomberg campaign was involved.  Where are the Haggerty emails that the post wanted to look?  * Independence Party in hot water over Bloomy donation (DN)






 True News Feb 18, 2011

DA Wants Independence Party to Give Him the $1.3 Million Bloomberg Gave Haggerty, Indy Party Refuses


The Manhattan district attorney's office has filed suit against the New York State Independence Party for failing to return hundreds of thousands of dollars allegedly stolen from Mayor Michael Bloomberg as part of a sham Election Day ballot security operation. DA raps Indie Party in $1M Mike-elex theft (NYP) * Suit Suggests Political Party Knew of Fraud A suit by the Manhattan district attorney says the Independence Party may have helped cover up a scheme to steal $1.1 million from Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s latest re-election campaign. (NYT) *  Trying Haggerty: “There is ample evidence to believe all of the defendants made attempts to hide the evidence of the crimes and conceal the fact that the funds contributed by the mayor had not been used as originally intended,” the DA’s Office asserted. (New York Post) *  Prosecuting Haggerty: “We respectfully tried to give it back to Mayor Bloomberg and they declined to take it,” Mr. MacKay said Thursday. Asked why the party was willing to return the money to the mayor and not the district attorney, Mr. MacKay said, “He gave it to us.” (Wall Street Journal)



True News March 8, 2011
Judge ripping Indy Party to shreds for not tracking Bloomberg's $1.1M “donation” that went to John Haggerty: “Doesn't smell right.” (Twitter) * Judge: Independence Party "Betrayed" Members By Not Minding The Store (DN) * Independence Party in hot water over aide's use of $1.2M Mayor Bloomberg donation to buy house (DN)

 More on Bloomberg $750,000 to Haggerty


Why Did Bloomberg Pay the Westchester Independence Party and not Queens?

Disgraced GOP big John Haggerty claims prosecuters contacted hi

Dec 15, 2010 ... Any way, Mr. Bloomberg gave the money to the Westchester County ... family values. christian values. all GOP. haggerty didn´t think



 Feb 21, 2011

Bloomberg/HaggertyGate

Manhattan DA’s Suit against Indy Part




True News Oct. 30, 2010


Bloomberg's Establishment Pressure Haggerty  in A Press Trial 
To Make  A Deal
 An Offer You Can't Refuse?
It seem that when  your in Bloomberg circle the press becomes the DA.  Both Haggerty and Steve Rattner are being tried in the press.  For three weeks there have been press stories about the SEC giving Rattner a tap on the wrist penalty an the the AG wanted more.  Now it is Haggerty turn for a press trial.  The Manhattan DA office filed court papers that said that Haggerty admitted to Manhattan prosecutors that he "lied" to and "misled" the mayor's campaign in order to conceal his intention to pocket the money, prosecutors allege in a new court filing. Haggerty lawyer Dennis Vacco "This is an over-the-top action by the DA's office, and it's got severe consequences on John's ability now to get a fair trial."  Bloomberg and his friends in the establishment do not want Haggerty to go to trial.   Haggerty was there when they bought term limits and knows who got what. If this matter goes to trial he will bring the whole house of cards down. Mike '$cammer' powwow (NYP)  * New Allegations Against Bloomberg Operative(WSJ)  We still do not know why the money was funneled to the Independence Party and why the money came from the personal account of the mayor and was not reported to the Board of Elections.  Oh boy do they want this case to disappear.  Why did the DA release this information gotten months ago right before the election  Maybe this is why?  Andy presses Carl on $1M scandal aide (NYP) * Former AG Dennis Vacco Defends John Haggerty Against Bob Duffy Swipe

True News Sept 20, 2010

Media Missing On Mayor's Missing Campaign Funds
While Spinning on his Attempts to Run for President


No Follow Up on yesterday's Daily News Story about a mayoral aid involvement in the $700,000 paid to Haggerty by the Bloomberg campaign. Indicted campaign aide John Haggerty points finger at Mayor Bloomberg's former deputy mayor

It is the best of times and worst of times for Deputy Mayor Wolfson. While his attempt to make Bloomberg a national candidate seems to be working as measured by the amount of press coverage the mayor is receiving, he has involved himself in the middle of the Haggerty trial by his inconsistent comments in the press for how and why the Independence Party was by the Bloomberg. Why Bloomberg's Deputy Mayor Wolfson Will Have to Resign (True News)



True News Sept 17, 2011


Why Deputy Mayor Wolfson Will Have to Resign

BloombergGate Cover-Up Unwinds
Harold Wolfson who Replaced
political guru, Kevin Sheekey, as deputy mayor is now caught up in the cover-up of the Haggerty 750,000 scandal and will have to exit City Hall Soon. Yesterday Wolfson said the money given a day before a hotly contested election by Bloomberg to the Independence Party was a donation and not for campaign expenses. Wolfson's current explanation of the money that wound up in Haggerty's pocket is 180 degrees different that the one her gave the NYP early this year (January 30th). At that time the Deputy Mayor said that the money that Bloomberg gave the party was for election day expenses. On June 10th in the NYP Wolfson also told the NYP that Haggerty was not authorized to keep any extra funds. Wolfson June 10th statement seem to agree with his January 30th statement that the $750,000 was for expenses. How can you return a donation which he claimed yesterday? Additionally the Village Voice Wayne Barrett wrote in February that Bloomberg's lawyers admitted the campaign broke the law. What the Manhattan DA must now investigate is why and who told Wolfson to now say the money was a donation to the Independence Party.

Wolfson Flip-Flops on the 750,000 to the Independence Party that wound up in Haggerty pocket

Wolfson Says on September 18th 2010
"The $750,000 was a donation and not for expenses"

Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson said Bloomberg did nothing wrong. "It was a donation," Wolfson said. "It was not an expenditure." Indicted campaign aide John Haggerty points finger at Mayor Bloomberg's former deputy mayor (DN)

Wolfson Says on January 30, 2010
The $750,000 went for campaign expenses

"One veteran GOP consultant said he believed Special Election Operations was designed to dispense "street money" -- cash that's spread around on Election Day to volunteers and for such incidentals as lunch. But Howard Wolfson, the mayor's campaign spokesman, insisted the $750,000 -- part of a $1.2 million personal contribution Bloomberg made to the state Independence Party right before the election -- didn't go for that purpose. "The [Independence Party] made the same Election Day expenses that all party committees make every election for Election Day workers," he said in an e-mail."Because the IP does not have the infrastructure to handle this kind of activity in-house, it used Special Election Operations to handle the payroll payments to all these individuals." Mike mystery money went to key elex aide (NYP)

Wolfson Said on June 10, 2010


"The mayor's campaign spokesman, Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson, told The Post that Haggerty was never authorized to keep any leftovers." Campaigner faces jail in Bloombucks 'scam' (NYP)
Was Wolfson's Flip Flop on the reason for the $750,000 an attempt to Protect Bloomberg's Campaign from Violating Campaign Expenditure Rules?

“The mayor filed a statement with the Board of Elections that he would only make campaign expenditures through his campaign committee,” said one lawyer familiar with the case who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the investigation. “But what might have happened here is instead of doing that, he gave personal funds to political parties to make political expenditures for him, and that could be stretching the rules.” G.O.P. Consultant Accused of Stealing Campaign Money
Bloomberg Broke Election Law
Even Mike Bloomberg's lawyers say he broke election law when he gave $1.2 million to the Independence Party right before the November election. The mayor's media guru, Howard Wolfson, and his elections lawyer Ken Gross told the Daily News that Bloomberg's two $600,000 personal checks to the party were used for poll-watchers, drivers, cellphones and food for election day. In their eagerness to account for the missing money -- most of which went to a mysterious, unincorporated firm now under investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance -- the two unwittingly admitted to an apparent violation of city and state campaign finance laws. Mike Bloomberg Broke Election Law, Admit His Own Lawyers (Barrett, Village Voice)


BloombergGate Hits Home/Cover-UP Unwinds

Has Haggerty has decided to take everyone down with him or is he trying to get the heavyweights involved to stop his investigation? Stay Tuned




"Mayor Bloomberg's political mastermind was outed in court papers Friday as the architect of a plan to hide $1.1 million in Election Day poll-watching. Indicted campaign aide John Haggerty said in a 41-page motion that former Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey convinced Bloomberg to hire the state Independence Party to do the monitoring - instead of using his own campaign team."
It is interesting to note that of the three Bloomberg aids who did not want him to run for a third term Deputy Mayors Edward Skyler, Patricia E. Harris and Kevin Sheekey only Harris is still at City Hall and she according to the NY Post is working mostly at her other job with Bloomberg's charity organization City Hall stingy on aide's charity hours (NYP) * Ex-aid John Haggerty knows where bodies are buried and may spill Mayor Bloomberg's secrets at trial (DN) * Bloomberg Expected to Seek Third Term as Mayor (NYT)

"It was Mr. Sheekey who decided that Mr. Haggerty should contact the Independence Party and request that ballot security be conducted through that political party"Bloomy political mastermind outed in court docs

Haggerty - who is currently working as a "volunteer" for Carl Paladino's GOP gubernatorial campaign, the same title he had with Bloomberg, with no campaign payments listed going to him - has made clear he's planning on fighting the case. Haggerty's spill factor



True News June 23, 2010


Nice Bonus Tom
Tom Ognibene on the $750,000 that got John Haggerty indicted: “John got this money funneled to him. That’s why there was no complaint filed. He never took a penny. He could’ve been making hundreds of thousands of dollars. This was John’s bonus.”






What Happen to the $700,000 Mayor Gave Independents Party? 

Trusted Bloomberg aide, John Haggerty, indicted for stealing $1.1M of mayor's campaign funds

Bloomberg Still Giving

Mayor Bloomberg's GOP Largesse Lives On

 

The Strange Secret Case of John Haggerty

The courts should be making public corruption cases public to set examples of what will happen to corrupt pols.  Is someone trying to settle this case behind closed doors?

Yesterday

DA puts freeze on Bloomy elex-$$ probe

The Campaign Finance Board is holding off its review into whether Mayor Bloomberg's re-election campaign violated disclosure rules on the orders of the Manhattan DA's Office, sources told The Post.
The sources said the DA is worried that any CFB findings might interfere with the criminal case against John Haggerty Jr., the Republican operative charged with swiping most of the $1.2 million that the mayor channeled through the state Independence Party last year for an Election Day ballot-security operation.A veteran election lawyer said that it was a violation of both state election law and CFB regulations, since the chief beneficiary of the donation was the mayor's campaign and not the Independence Party, which was supposed to keep only $100,000.
Today
Grace Rauh

No oral arguments today in Haggerty case. Lawyers met w judge behind closed doors. Judge wants more time. Now scheduled for Feb. 8. (Twitter) * Hearing Delayed for Consultant Charged With Defrauding Bloomberg (NYT)

 

Bloomberg Is Accused of Hiding Election Money

December 16, 2010

 

Feb 09, 2011
Feb 09, 2011
Also revealed was a email sent to consultant John Haggerty to two top aides, Kevin Sheekey and Patricia E. Harris, that an triggered Election Day payment to Haggerty through the Interdependence Party. The message that Haggerty sent in ...
Sep 17, 2010
Sep 17, 2010
Harold Wolfson who Replaced political guru, Kevin Sheekey, as deputy mayor is now caught up in the cover-up of the Haggerty 750000 scandal and will have to exit City Hall Soon. Yesterday Wolfson said the money given a day before a hotly ...
Dec 16, 2010
Dec 16, 2010
If Mr. Bloomberg "made the contribution directing how it should be spent, he would be in violation of both the New York State Election Law and the New York City Campaign finance Law," Mr. Haggerty's attorneys allege. ...
Jan 24, 2011
Jan 24, 2011
The sources said the DA is worried that any CFB findings might interfere with the criminal case against John Haggerty Jr., the Republican operative charged with swiping most of the $1.2 million that the mayor channeled through the state ...
Feb 18, 2011
Feb 18, 2011
(NYT) * Trying Haggerty: “There is ample evidence to believe all of the defendants made attempts to hide the evidence of the crimes and conceal the fact that the funds contributed by the mayor had not been used as originally intended,” ...
Jun 14, 2010
Jun 14, 2010
Republican gubernatorial hopeful Carl Paladino's campaign is bracing for the likely indictment this week on grand larceny charges of GOP Queens operative John Haggerty by Manhattan DA Cy Vance Jr. Vance rejected Haggerty's offer to ...
Sep 20, 2010
Sep 20, 2010
No Follow Up on yesterday's Daily News Story about a mayoral aid involvement in the $700000 paid to Haggerty by the Bloomberg campaign. Indicted campaign aide John Haggerty points finger at Mayor Bloomberg's former deputy mayor ...
Feb 08, 2011
Feb 08, 2011
ADA: Bloomberg Testified In Haggerty Case. www.capitaltonight.com * Mayor Bloomberg testifies in secret court hearing about campaign(DN) * Man accused of bilking Bloomberg wants case tossed (WSJ) * Bloomberg Testified in Case Against ...
Jun 10, 2010
Jun 10, 2010
Campaigner faces jail in Bloombucks 'scam' Will Haggerty take the fall alone and go quietly to jail? Without the public finding out the rest of the story? Bloomberg spent $109.9 million to get elected to a third term and contributed ...
Aug 23, 2010
Aug 23, 2010
Conservative Civil War Fight: Paladino, Roger Star * Haggerty and Vs Long & D'amato. New York's Conservative Party faces threat * The Post would like Lazio to decide about debating Carl Paladino ASAP. Is Long Fanning the Anti-Mosque ...
Aug 05, 2010
Aug 05, 2010
We wonder if Bloomberg's campaign manager Turk Knew about the the $700000 contract to John Haggerty to run election day operations for Bloomberg? Will Tusk testify at Haggerty trial? Tusk testified at the former Illinois Gov. ...
Aug 18, 2010
Aug 18, 2010
The Secret Campaign of Mayor Mike John F. Haggerty Jr., an enigmatic Republican political consultant now facing criminal charges for allegedly stealing money from the mayor (Obsever) * The Seneca Nation called on Bloomberg to resign ...
Jun 15, 2010
Jun 15, 2010
The money given to John Haggerty Jr. came from the mayor's personal funds, not his campaign account. * Albany Lawmakers Approve Extender Bill, Avoid Shutdown (NY1) * State government shutdown averted, and Gov. Paterson says he'll decide ...
Jun 08, 2010
Jun 08, 2010
Mr. Haggerty has been described as deferential to his political mentors. He is now working on the insurgent campaign for governor of Carl Paladino. John Haggerty "lives, breathes, and dies politics," but couldn't be reached by The Times ...
Jan 19, 2011
Jan 19, 2011
What Happen to the $700000 Mayor Gave Independents Party? Trusted Bloomberg aide, John Haggerty, indicted for stealing $1.1M of mayor's campaign funds. Bloomberg Still Giving. Mayor Bloomberg's GOP Largesse Lives On ...
Jan 04, 2011
Jan 04, 2011
Mr. (John) Haggerty Goes To Albany. Former Gov. David Paterson plays the race card. Criminal investigation into botched blizzard clean-up effort launched. The Miss Opportunity of the Bloomberg Administration ...
Dec 23, 2010
Dec 23, 2010
John Haggerty Won't Plea. When the New York State Independence Party attempted to return money that prosecutors say was stolen from Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire mayor said: No thank you. Bloomberg: No To Cash Back (WSJ) ...
Dec 20, 2010
Dec 20, 2010
Bloomberg's Corruption Public Relations Mess City Time, Steve Rattner and the $700000 paid to John Haggerty that violated ever campaign law, Caught the Mayor On the Wrong Side of the Ethics and Coming Corruption War. ...
Dec 18, 2010
Dec 18, 2010
City Time, Steve Rattner and the $700000 paid to John Haggerty that violated ever campaign law, Caught the Mayor On the Wrong Side of the Ethics and Coming Corruption War. City officials overseeing the scandal-scarred CityTime payroll ...
Jun 12, 2010
Jun 12, 2010
Haggerty or Special Elections Operations LLC, a company he established.(NYT) * DA: Independence Party Slowing Probe The Manhattan district attorney's office accused the Independence Party of stonewalling a criminal investigation into ...
Sep 26, 2010
Sep 26, 2010
Budget war between Manhattan DA Cy Vance and Mayor Bloomberg heats up (DN ). The Biggest Battle is Over the Mayor's 700000 Payment to His Campaign Aid Haggerty. Indicted campaign aide John Haggerty points finger at Mayor . ...
Sep 24, 2010
Sep 24, 2010
Is Haggerty the E. Howard Hunt of the Bloomberg Operation? Frank Morano wants the Board of Elections to investigate the Indy Party. City Program for Homeless Is Criticized The city comptroller, John C. Liu, says a program that delivers ...
Jun 16, 2010
Jun 16, 2010
Elex board to probe Indies' $$ State Board of Elections is going to scrutinize the filings of the state Independence Party to determine if it tried to hide $133000 it forwarded to indicted political operative John Haggerty (NYP) * Vance ...
Oct 23, 2010
Oct 23, 2010
The ad attacks John Haggertywho is under indictment for pocketing $700000 from the Bloomberg campaign. Bloomberg has endorsed Cuomo. Another Bloomberg aid Steve Rattner is the target of Paladino ads, which says Cuomo has protected him. ...
Sep 03, 2010
Sep 03, 2010
City Hall Cover Up E-mail-strom Mike stonewalls on Haggerty Political operative John Haggerty Jr. may stand accused of swiping $750000 from Mayor Bloomberg, but that doesn't mean City Hall is ready to disclose any more details about him ...
Oct 30, 2010
Oct 30, 2010
Both Haggerty and Steve Rattner are being tried in the press. For three weeks there have been press stories about the SEC giving Rattner a tap on the wrist penalty an the the AG wanted more. Now it is Haggerty turn for a press trial. ...
Oct 29, 2010
Oct 29, 2010
Report: ADA Says Haggerty Copped To Stealing Bloomberg Cash (Updated). The Coming Economic Danger. What the Candidates and Media Will Not Talk About Until After the Election. It is the Economy Again, Stupid ...
Oct 08, 2010
Oct 08, 2010
the now-closed investigation only extends to the Tabacco loan allegation – which is likely a reference the Manhattan DA's ongoing probe that resulted in the indictment of Indy Party operative John Haggerty. ...
Jun 23, 2010
Jun 23, 2010
Tom Ognibene on the $750000 that got John Haggerty indicted: “John got this money funneled to him. That's why there was no complaint filed. He never took a penny. He could've been making hundreds of thousands of dollars. ...
Jun 28, 2010
Jun 28, 2010
... Village Voice * Bloomberg knew exactly what was going on with the missing 700000 that the independence party paid GOP operative John HaggertyLawsuit Alleges City Lobbying Law Punishes Non-Profits While Ignoring Non-Filers * The wife ...
Jun 19, 2010
Jun 19, 2010
Adam Libserg notes the connection between Manhattan DA Cy Vance Jr. and John Catsimatidis and wonders what that might have to do with the indictment of John Haggerty. Insider Leaks Tarnish Aqueduct Casino Plans New revelations of ...
May 19, 2010
May 19, 2010
... a case involving Mayor Bloomberg's $750000 contribution to the state Independence Party in 2009 that was passed on to campaign operative John Haggerty, who has never fully accounted for how he spent the cash, sources confirm *Gov. ...

E-mail-strom

Mayor's Secret Grand Jury Testimony Raise Questions

Question 1. Why would the mayor choose to hire Mr. Haggerty through a state political party, rather than directly? 

Question 2. Why was Mr. Sheekey, a deputy mayor who never formally joined the campaign as an employee, so intimately involved in the campaign’s finances? 

Question 3. And why did the Bloomberg campaign need to spend more than $1 million on ballot security in the first place? 


Also revealed was a email sent to consultant John Haggerty to   two top aides, Kevin Sheekey and Patricia E. Harris, that an triggered Election Day payment to Haggerty through the Interdependence Party.  The message that Haggerty sent in the email has also raised serious questions.  Haggerty wrote " You also wanted to ‘wash in’ a $100K contribution on top of the cost of the operation."  

Question 4  $100K contribution to who?

The Coming Storm March 2, 2010   An Exit From City Hall for a Top Bloomberg Aide (NYT) * City Hall stingy on aide's charity hours Deputy Mayor Patricia Harris (NYP)



The Haggerty Email
“Kevin,” wrote the consultant, John F. Haggerty Jr., “you said that you also wanted to ‘wash in’ a $100K contribution on top of the cost of the operation.” As directed, aides to Mr. Bloomberg soon wired over $1.2 million — $1.1 million to cover the cost of Mr. Haggerty’s services, plus the extra $100,000 that he suggested be “washed in.” Mr. Haggerty now stands accused of stealing most of that money from the mayor, but his high-profile prosecution by the Manhattan district attorney is already providing an unusual and, for Mr. Bloomberg, unwelcome glimpse into the casual intermingling of money, politics and government staff that prevailed in his $110 million re-election bid two years ago. Theft Case Offers Window on Bloomberg’s Bid for Re-election (NYT) * Big shock for Mike's $1.1M 'thief' aide Mayor's secret grand-jury testimony bared. A prosecutor revealed the mayor had secretly testified before the grand jury that handed up an indictment in the case.* Bloomberg Testified in Secret(WSJ) * Consultant Accused Of Ripping Off Mayor Asks For Case To Be Dropped (NY1) * John Haggerty’s attorneys were surprised to learn Bloomberg has testified against him before the grand jury.*  Mike Bloomberg Cy Vance John Haggerty hold the bull!(Video)



BloombergGate

Burn the Emails

City Hall Cover Up
E-mail-strom Mike stonewalls on Haggerty Political operative John Haggerty Jr. may stand accused of swiping $750,000 from Mayor Bloomberg, but that doesn't mean City Hall is ready to disclose any more details about him than it has to.




Haggerty Vs. Bloomberg: The Battle for the Queens GOP

 GOP: Ognibene to challenge Ragusa for control of Queens * Bloomberg Cash At Center Of Queens GOP Battle (CHN) * With the backing of the controversial GOP consultant John Haggerty, former Bloomberg opponent Tom Ognibene plans to challenge Queens County Republican Chairman Phil Ragusa for selling out the party line too cheaply to the billionaire mayor in 2009. 




John Haggerty Won't Plea

When the New York State Independence Party attempted to return money that prosecutors say was stolen from Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire mayor said: No thank you. 

Bloomberg: No To Cash Back (WSJ)

 

 

The Case Of the Mayors Missing $1 Million 

NYP Attacks  John Haggerty. 'Embezzler' has phone-y excuse (NYP) Calls him a disgrace.  A couple of months ago on its wood it called him Bloom Burglar.  What the NYP did not mention and is included in today's WSJ artilce, is that Haggerty lawyers are accusing Bloomberg of breaking all kinds of campaign finance rules and regulations.

 



Media Missing On Mayor's Missing Campaign Funds
While Spinning on his Attempts to Run for President


No Follow Up on yesterday's Daily News Story about a mayoral aid involvement in the $700,000 paid to Haggerty by the Bloomberg campaign. Indicted campaign aide John Haggerty points finger at Mayor Bloomberg's former deputy mayor

It is the best of times and worst of times for Deputy Mayor Wolfson. While his attempt to make Bloomberg a national candidate seems to be working as measured by the amount of press coverage the mayor is receiving, he has involved himself in the middle of the Haggerty trial by his inconsistent comments in the press for how and why the Independence Party was by the Bloomberg. Why Bloomberg's Deputy Mayor Wolfson Will Have to Resign (True News)

The Secret Campaign of Mayor Mike(NYO) Aug 10, 2010

Mike Bloomberg Broke Election Law, Admit His Own Lawyers (Barrett Village Voice)

Bloomberg's '200G' aides in double dip (NYP)

Allison Jaffin-Haggerty Scam Witness

Mayor Rebuffs Critics Over Aide(WSJ)

Mike Bloomberg's Aide is Key Witness in Campaign Cash Probe (Robbins, Village Voice)

 

CITY HALL STONEWALLING ON HAGGERTY E-MAILS - NYPOST.COM 9/5/2010


Mike war-chest flap (NYP)

JOHN HAGGERTY FOCUS OF MANHATTAN DA PROBE: POST - NYPOST. ...

 

Mike mystery money went to key elex aide

By DAVID SEIFMAN City Hall Bureau Chief

 

DA raps Indie Party in $1M Mike-elex theft

By DAVID SEIFMAN City Hall Bureau Chief

The Secret Campaign of Mike Bloomberg 

 

 Why Has Frank MacKey of the Independence Party Gotten Away With Hiding the Money From the DA?

Frank MacKay, the Independence Party chairman, went so far as to claim that not only didn't he know, but that he couldn't recall the name of the consultant who supposedly recommended he hire the firm.  NYP January 30, 2010. Leaders of the city Independence Party -- which has been feuding with MacKay for years -- suggested the entire set-up might be "corrupt." On February 11, 2011 the NYP wrote DA raps Indie Party in $1M Mike-elex theft The DA filed court papers that described the party as a "noncriminal defendant" that helped political operative John Haggerty steal Bloomberg's campaign cash late in the 2009 mayoral race. According to court papers party VP  Connolly and Haggerty also fabricated a written contract to make it appear the party had contracted with Haggerty to conduct the Election Day operation. . . Dennis Lemke, one of the party's lawyers, denied that the party knew of Haggerty's alleged million-dollar scam. He said the party was prepared to return any of the mayor's remaining funds -- but only to the mayor. A footnote in the indictment said party officials kept "a portion of the stolen funds."   Campaign records show that Bloomberg wired $100,000 to the party's housekeeping account on March 12, 2009. Four days later, state party Chairman Frank MacKay received $60,000 from that account for unspecified "consulting" duties.  Political insiders said the timing of the mayor's $100,000 donation indicates it was intended as a goodwill gesture, since he was negotiating at the time with MacKay's hated rivals in the city Independence Party, which controlled the Independence ballot line for mayor. Bloomberg ended up contributing $400,000 to the city Independence Party after securing the line * Indy Party chief in jam over wife loan The wife of the chairman of the state Independence Party solicited and received a $10,000 business loan from a candidate (Tabacco) who got the party's coveted endorsement days later. I implore the chair to explain to [party] members statewide if contracting with GRI is a prerequisite to the political-patronage machine called the New York State Independence Party," Tabacco said.*  DA raps Indie Party in $1M Mike-elex theft(NYP) * Indy Party $till frozen(NYP) * The state Independence Party came under withering attack Tuesday from a judge who said it betrayed its members by poorly monitoring a $1.2 million donation from Mayor Bloomberg. "It doesn't smell right," Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Martin Shulman*Independence Party Accused of Failing to Monitor Funds - NYTimes  The Manhattan district attorney’s office has also filed a civil suit against the party, accusing it of helping to cover up Mr. Haggerty’s scheme, a charge the party has denied.  “Nothing here suggests anybody was watching the store,” the judge said. “I’m more interested in hearing why you believe you get a pass in terms of your chairman and your vice chairman not having a clue of where the $1.1 million went.”* SI DA Probe opened by Staten Island of Independence Party's $10G loan in exchange for City Council nod

 

Ken Gross, counsel to the campaign was quoted by NYP's Seifman in a January 30, 2010 story that the Haggerty money was to "hired 200 to 300 workers to do poll watching on Election Day" Sources said John Haggerty was instrumental in helping Bloomberg land the Republican ballot line in the face of strong initial opposition from some GOP leaders and that the mayor considers him a trusted adviser.


E-mail-strom Mike stonewalls on Haggerty(NYP)

Responding to a Freedom of Information request filed by The Post seven months ago, the mayor's office last week provided just nine e-mail exchanges between Haggerty and mayoral aides in all of 2008 and 2009. There were other e-mails that the mayor's refuses to release on the grounds of "personal privacy." They're so private, in fact, officials won't even say how many e-mails are being withheld.

Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. lays out case against Bloomberg, but decides not to follow through

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. last week laid out in his clearest language yet how Mayor Bloomberg may have broken campaign finance law in funding his reelection bid last year. Somehow, though, Vance doesn't see it as a case worth pursuing




Bloomberg and senior aides huddled with Republican campaign consultant John Haggerty Jr. on Oct. 28, 2009, six days before the election, to discuss a ballot security drive drawn up by Haggerty, Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. revealed in court papers. Mike '$cammer' powwow (NYP)








Mr. Bloomberg never disclosed his $1.2 million contribution to the CFB.
Strangely, no one at the Bloomberg campaign asked for an accounting until The Post began raising questions in late January about who was behind Special Election Operations, the name of which had surfaced in public filings.



Howard Wolfson, the mayor's campaign spokesman, insisted the $750,000 -- part of a $1.2 million personal contribution Bloomberg made to the state Independence Party right before the election -- didn't go for street money. . .  Mr. Wolfson "ballot security is a traditional function of parties." 8/18/2010


In 2005 when Bloomberg was running against Freddie Ferrer he funded another ballot security operation-helmed by Mr. Haggerty-in that race as well. In that case, Mr. Bloomberg made two $400,000 donations to the New York State Republican Party's "Housekeeping Account." In turn, the Republican Party paid $200,000 in "poll watcher" fees to an apparently unincorporated company called Campaign Resources. Located at 205 Montague Street, in downtown Brooklyn, it used the address of the law office of the late Robert Allan Muir, Mr. Haggerty's attorney and friend. In other words, for two consecutive mayoral campaigns, Mr. Haggerty, the officially unpaid Bloomberg "volunteer," was in fact paid very well through unincorporated firms, with funds that had originated in Mayor Bloomberg's private accounts.

Paying through housekeeper party accouts
"Is clearly an attempt to evade the purpose of the law," said John Moscow, a former white-collar prosecutor in Manhattan.

5

 


The Queens GOP Civil Wars
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and state GOP Chairman Ed Cox are meeting to discuss the Queens GOP following the news that NYC Councilman Peter Koo plans to defect to the Democrats. 
Top New York Republican officials are set to huddle today to the discuss the Queens party organization and its Senate candidates. The meeting with state Chairman Ed Cox, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Queens Chairman Phil Ragusa was scheduled before the New York Times reported Councilman Peter Koo was switching to the Democrats, but the loss of Koo as a potential Senate candidate will loom large. Koo left in part because he was tired of the Queens Republicans’ longstanding internal strife. There may be a bright spot for the party, though, if Skelos can cut a favorable district for Juan Reyes, a Hispanic attorney who lives in Forest Hills and could challenge Democratic Sen. Joe Addabbo. Meanwhile, controversial Councilman Dan Halloran apparently formed a state fundraising committee yesterday that could lay the groundwork for a long-rumored challenge to Democratic Sen. Tony Avella. There is talk about extending the district into more conservative Bronx neighborhoods, and Bronx Republican Chairman Jay Savino is said to be on board with the idea.



Independence Party Chair "Teflon" MacKay Consolidates Power Surrounded By Scandal


An ex member of the Independence Party Frank Morano dropped a dime on his former party chair Frank MacKay's plan to consolidate power in the party. MacKey is changing the party rules to give the executive party more control over endorsements in elections taking place in single counties.  Morano Believes that these changes will be dramatic, giving “the State Executive Committee the power to choose candidates in any and every county anywhere in the entire state.” When Marano quit the party last year he said only MacKay and another member control the parties money.  It took 3 trials to convict John Gotti.  It is doubtful if MacKay will ever see the inside of a court room for corrupting the Independence Party. The city DA's who count on the Independence party and corrupt pols to get reelect will never set up sting operations and wire taps like the feds did when that caught Kruger, Boyland, Mclaughlin, Seminerio and many others in the act of committing crimes.



DA's Who Need the Party For Reelection Don't See Any Corruption
State Independence Party Chairman Frank MacKay -- under investigation by two DAs in the city.  In 2010 both the Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. and Staten Island DA Daniel Donovan were looking  into the party's role in funneling money from Mayor Bloomberg's campaign to a former aide, John Haggerty and the Queens GOP. 

MacKay Funneled Illegal Money to Convict Haggerty and Gets Away With It
Haggerty has since been convicted on grand-larceny charges. Also in 2010 the NYP reported on a $10,000 business loan that MacKay wife received from a city council candidate two days before he got the Independent Party endorsement.  The candidate John Tabacco told The Post. "in his view, the party leadership has been corrupted."  The two DA's investigations have died because both DA need the Independence Party for their reelection. In fact the party ran Donovan on their line, which helped him win reelection in 2011.  Daniel Donovan has opened investigation of Independence Party (July 23, 2010) * In wake of Independence Party flaps, wary Daniel Donovan spurns party in A.G. race (July 23, 2010)  * Donovan Accepts Tainted Independence Party Nod, Just One Year after Forgoing it for Suspicion of Corruption (October 30, 2011)


Radio Personality Frank Morano Quit the Independence Party and Attacked the Way It Spent Money?

"It seems as if the only two people who have any say whatsoever in how IP money is spent are Frank MacKay and First Vice-Chairman Tom Connolly (currently on the staff of State Senator Carl Kruger, who is going to jail.).It’s no wonder then that MacKay and Connolly so often believe that the best use of Independence Party funds is to pay themselves off." Morano wrote a letter to the BOE complaining how the IP   Ex-Independence Party Officer Frank Morano Files Scathing Elections Complaint(NYDN)

 


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