How's this for chutzpah?
Indicted former State Sen. Wayne Bryant has asked the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) for permission to use his $626,000 in unspent campaign funds to pay defense lawyers in his bribery and corruption case, saying the legal costs are 'ordinary and necessary expenses' of holding public office.
The story, reported in today's Ledger (see here), follows on the heels of buzz in yesterday's Ledger, New York Times and Gannett papers that Bryant was planning the move. Today's story further reveals that former State Sen. Joseph Coniglio reported spending $90,000 of his campaign funds on lawyers for HIS corruption case.
This is the ultimate in pay-to-play: recycling the cash back to the 'vendors' even after indicted for corruption.
I have a modest proposal for the Legislature and ELEC.
When a sitting legislator is indicted for a crime, his or her campaign funds should be frozen until they are found either guilty or innocent.
If the indicted pol is convicted, the campaign funds should be seized and turned over to the state's Clean Election program. If found innocent, the freeze is unblocked.
Now, who can we find to sponsor such a bill?
- Today's Ledger: "Accused ex-legislators turn to campaign cash to pay legal bills"
- Yesterday: "Ex-Senator Bryant wants to pay lawyers with campaign cash" -- Ledger | NY Times | Gannett |
- Website: "Election Law Enforcement Commission"
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