Ethics Panel Accuses Hevesi of Violating Law

[cal04]

The State Ethics Commission accused Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi today of breaking the law by using state employees to chauffeur his wife for more than three and a half years, and referred his case to the State Legislature to decide if he should be removed from office.

The ethics commission cast serious doubts on Mr. Hevesi’s claims that he needed a driver for his wife for security reasons, noting that there were no threats made against his wife, Carol, and that the state police determined there was a “low” risk. The driver assigned to Mrs. Hevesi had no law-enforcement experience, the commission said.

Its 26-page report, coming just two weeks before the election, is a major blow to Mr. Hevesi, a Democrat who serves as the state’s chief fiscal watchdog. The report asks whether the nearly $83,000 that Mr. Hevesi reimbursed the state is enough to cover the costs of the drivers, and chided the comptroller’s office for its lax record keeping.

Mr. Hevesi’s little-known Republican opponent, J. Christopher Callaghan, called on the comptroller to resign. “Clearly Mrs. Hevesi wasn’t the only New Yorker who was taken for a ride,” he said at a hastily called news conference on the steps of the Capitol

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/23/nyregion/24hevesicnd.html?hp&ex=1161662400&en=babf83d5efdcb62d&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Danascot]

1. Hevesi brought this on himself

through his own arrogance and stupidity.

Dems have to be cleaner than clean now so the r's can't say, "See everybody does it, corruption is bi-partisan."

[Fredda Weinberg]

2. This ain't corruption

Yeah, he provided transportation for his sick wife, but corruption is influencing policy for a price. This is different and not new.

[Ignacio Upton]

3. If he violated ethics laws and impeachment is being considered

Then I guess I don't know what corruption is.

Honestly, the best we can do is have him stay in the race and then throw his ass out after Election Day (which I'm hoping for) or else Callaghan will become Comptroller if Hevesi resigns.

I'm also concerned that Republicans in districts like NY-19 and NY-25 could point to Hevesi to neutralize national GOP corruption and use the "both parties do it" excuse to keep them in power so they can vote for Denny Hastert for Speaker again.

[Fredda Weinberg]

4. Clinton was impeached ... so what?

The public's been informed and if Hevesi wins the election, it means that NYers can distinguish between a concerned spouse and an official who can be bribed. If the facts as we know them know are all there is, there ain't much there.

[Danascot]

5. Detailed Article on Ethics Commission Report

http://www.nysun.com/article/42177

[annabanana]

6. This is gettin a lot of press. Is the transgression so foul?

Is there something about his Repup opponent that we should know? He sure is getting dumped on.

[Oleladylib]

7. One of the local reporters who I usually respect..

asked her associate if he thought this would have an affect on the expected Democratic win (presumably she meant Washington) dumb, dumb, dumb..Washington wouldn't even know Hevesi..Neither Hevesi or Callaghan are particularly impressive..but, Callaghan has definite bumpkin possibilites..I mean daaaaaaaaa.Glad Spitzer distanced himself from this garbage..Gov.Spitzer knows the way.