McLaughlin's Greatest Hits

October 17, 2006

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If you don't have time to read the 186-page indictment [pdf] against former Assemblyman and labor leader Brian McLaughlin, here are some highlights from the press release from the U.S. Attorney's office in the Southern District of New York:

McLaughlin "allegedly required certain J Division members to make monthly payments to McLAUGHLIN from proceeds that those workers obtained by selling scrap metal and other salvaged materials recovered during the course of their jobs."

He also had union members do personal work around the house like "changing light bulbs; hanging picture frames; shoveling snow; hanging Christmas lights...removing garbage...searching for and capturing rodents in McLAUGHLIN's basement..."

In a breech of State Assembly rules, "McLAUGHLIN allegedly created fictitious positions on his legislative staff and pocketed a share of the salary for one of the purported employees, and he also allegedly submitted false claims for reimbursement of his daily expenses."

And to round it off, he allegedly used "$19,000 from the Clinton Club for his own personal expenses, including rent at his residence in Albany, and the purchase and installation of a wide-screen plasma television at the home of a person with whom he maintained a personal relationship."

Denis Hughes, President, New York State AFL-CIO said, "Everyone should keep in mind that Brian McLaughlin has not been convicted of a crime and will be afforded the opportunity to respond to and defend himself against these allegations."

Update: Remember the Assembly candidate who had a tribute to Brian McLaughlin? Well, it's down now. It used to be posted here. That candidate, Rory Lancman, issued a statement about McLaughlin, which is after the jump. -- Azi Paybarah

Rory Lancman:

"Today's indictment of Brian McLaughlin is a sad day for Brian and his family, and for the community as well. Everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence in America, but the government's allegations are extremely disturbing. I look forward to all the facts and evidence being presented, and to a speedy and just resolution of these charges."

12 comments

On the Waterfront, or to the Big House? (not verified) says:

Yeah, we'll sure try to keep that in mind, Denis. Azi, by the way, I think you left out the part about how McLaughlin swiped a six-figure sum from the Electchester Houses little league organization -- practically literally stealing (cotton) candy from the mouths of babes, in this case the kids of the heavily union-member-dominated residents at Electchester. How about a little righteous rage on behalf of the working men and women of Queens who pay all those union dues, Denis?

October 17, 2006 7:46 PM

Anonymous says:

If anyone gets the chance, try to peruse the full indictment. There are some real gems in it.

McLaughlin had so many scams going, it reminds me of the line from the Shawshank Redemption, "he has kickbacks on his kickbacks."

One of the best ones, even though it's relatively small compared to some of the rest, is a scam McLaughlin used to collect his Albany per diem. Instead of actually going to work and voting on something, McLaughlin told someone else to drive their car to Albany and back, using his EZ pass along the way, to fake the fact that he had actually traveled there.

At one point, when McLaughlin told some person to do this, the indictment says they responded, "Our tax dollars at work."

This things reads like part detective novel, part instruction manual on government graft. Good read.

October 17, 2006 9:20 PM