Bloomberg, as Witness, May Face Prickly Questions

[no_hypocrisy]

-snip-

Although it is Mr. Vacco’s client, John F. Haggerty Jr., a political consultant, who is standing trial on charges of stealing more than $1 million from the mayor, Mr. Vacco has used his cross-examinations to ask questions of the Bloomberg administration that are seldom asked in public, let alone answered.

-snip-

The attack on the mayor is expected to hit a crescendo on Monday when Mr. Bloomberg himself takes the witness stand, in what is sure to be one of the most intriguing courtroom moments in the city in recent memory. It is hard to imagine a situation that could be more awkward and potentially embarrassing for a sitting mayor: having to address back-room political decisions.

-snip-

Prosecutors say Mr. Haggerty falsely promised Mr. Bloomberg’s 2009 campaign that he would work with the Independence Party to provide an Election Day ballot-security operation. Based on Mr. Haggerty’s representations about how much the operation would cost, prosecutors said, Mr. Bloomberg contributed $1.1 million, which was supposed to be used on the project, to the Independence Party. Instead of providing ballot security, prosecutors say, Mr. Haggerty spent most of the money to buy his house in Queens.

The defense has said Mr. Bloomberg was concerned about criticism from Democrats that ballot security amounted to voter suppression, and arranged to pay for it the way he did so that no one would notice. When the mayor’s ballot-security payments were uncovered, the defense has said, the Bloomberg campaign held Mr. Haggerty out as a scapegoat.

-more-

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/nyregion/vacco-ex-attorney-general-defends-former-bloomberg-consultant.html?ref=nyregion

----

When Hizzoner Takes the Stand, Things Can Get Testy

-snip-

If Mr. Bloomberg was a hero in that case, this time the defense will try to paint him as an incumbent intent on “winning at all costs,” said Raymond R. Castello, the lawyer for the political consultant, John F. Haggerty Jr.

-more-

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/when-hizzoner-takes-the-stand-things-can-get-testy/?ref=nyregion



This matters as there is ongoing controversy about the unprecedented move by Michael Bloomberg to get the City Council permission to run as mayor for a third term as an exception and anomaly to the two-term limit. No other candidate will be able to run for a third term. A lot of unresolved issues remain about how Bloomberg got the backing of the Council and control of voting for the election.

[xchrom]

1. Let the sun shine in. Nt