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Loading ...Gay foe Bruno indicted on federal corruption charges
01.26.2009 11:24am EST
(Albany, New York) Once the second most powerful man in New York State, former New York state Senate leader Joseph Bruno has been indicted on federal corruption charges.
Bruno, a Republican, retired from the Legislature in July after more than a dozen years leading the Senate.An eight-count indictment by the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York accuses Bruno of using his office to defraud the people of New York from 1993 through at least 2006.
Court papers allege he received $3 million in payments from people and businesses seeking state and union contracts.
Following a court appearance he blamed the investigation on his political foes.
“This is not the first time we’ve seen deeply flawed, dysfunctional or even illegal behavior by those with prosecutorial power,” Bruno said.
During his career in the state Senate he was the Legislature’s most vocal opponent of LGBT civil rights.
In 2007, the NYS Assembly passed legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry. The measure had the approval of then Gov. Elliott Spitzer and more recently current Gov. David Paterson.
Bruno used his position as Senate leader to block the bill from being considered in the Senate.
For seven years in a row, the Assembly passed the Dignity For All Students Act. Bruno opposed the anti-bullying bill in the Senate over its inclusion of gender identity.
Bruno also opposed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, or GENDA, which bans discrimination against transgender people in housing, employment, credit, public accommodations, and other areas of everyday life.
Considered the oldest serving state legislative leader in the country, Bruno ran the Senate with an iron fist for more than a dozen years and was the state’s top Republican.
He was known as a formidable opponent who crippled the administration of Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who resigned amid a prostitution scandal last March.
Hopefully he will get to spend some time in jail, with all those str8, tough, macho men, and no women at all.
I’m smiling. He deserves it. And remember, it has nothing to do with homosexuality and has all do do with power relationships. Something Bruno and his church should understand – and accept.
Good riddance to him. Maybe he can spend his time with a Democratic crook, pretty boy Blago. Oh, for a spycam on the wall, broadcasting on the inet.
At least btw, the dems did the right thing, tossing out Blago. Too bad the repubs didn’t do the right thing years ago, and toss out their corrupt leader – whose name reminds me of where I used to take dumps when on hikes in the woods. Somethng about a what a small tree is called, begins with ‘B’. So fitting.
Ps – be sure the bush isn’t poison ivy – I had a friend when I was 12 who failed that test. Kind tough for a week or two.
He is a mean spirited man who refused to fund NYC appropriately.
He vetos money for school lunch programs and free immunization for children from low income families.
Yes, was a nasty foe of gays, but he spread misery around for everyone.
I hope goes to jail.
A total prick. Yeah, let’s hope he gets the big one in the big house in the business end of his Republic.
Bruno, a Roman Catholic-Italian bigot, and naturally a mean-spirited Republican, like Scalia, is White Trash. Thankfully, he’s headed for the garbage bin. This article made my day. Thanks.
I hope he finds lots of boyfriends in prison.
Good, serves the bastard right! I hope they throw the book at him. Let him do jail time with the most depraved of criminals to learn a lesson in humility.
Good I hope they nail this *astard to the wall, that’s just one more evil opponent in NY. . OUT of the way. Isn’t amazing how these holier than thou fools always end up hanging them selves?