14 DAY TRIAL // New York Senator Malcolm Smith has been arrested for trying to bribe his way into the mayor's position in the upcoming elections.
Queens city councilman Daniel Halloran, a Republican, has been charged for using bribery to get Smith on the GOP ballot.
The lawmakers taking the bribes, Bronx Republican Party Chairman Jay Savino and Queens County Republican Party Vice Chairman Vincent Tabone have also been charged after accepting money to put Smith's name on the GOP ballot.
Smith is up for 45 years in prison if he is convicted on conspiracy, wire fraud and Hobbs Act violations. Halloran, Tabone and Savino are all facing counts of conspiracy and wire fraud.
A Democrat, Smith was planning to run for office on behalf of the Republican party and needed three votes from committee members, CBS News reports.
The authorization, known as the Wilson-Pakula certificate, is required from a majority of members of the party committee that administers a specific area.
He “tried to bribe his way to a shot at Gracie Mansion,” US attorney Preet Bharara describes.
“He drew up the game plan and Councilman Halloran essentially quarterbacked that drive by finding party chairmen who were wide open to receiving bribes,” says Bharara.
According to Washington Post, Smith planned to get the bribe money from a real estate developer looking for backing for a project in Spring Valley.
An undercover agent posed as the developer and reeled Halloran in, who also managed to get village mayor Noramie Jasmin's approval.
Both were eager to get in on the project with council and state money, and Spring Valley Deputy Mayor Joseph Desmaret was willing to sell his supporting vote.
“As alleged, these defendants did not obey the law; they broke the law and the public trust. There is a price to pay for that kind of betrayal,” says FBI Assistant Director George Venizelos.