The Westchester Guardian Thursday, JUNE 10, 2010 Page 3
Shakedown for Judgeships
Westchester Democratic Chairman Accused of Extorting Kickbacks in Exchange for Party Endorsement By Sam Zherka Sam Zherka
Public corruption is one of the
FBI’s top priorities after terrorism and espionage. The FBI understands public corruption impacts democracy and is a threat to state and national security. Political corruption affects everything from securing our borders to fixing potholes, from verdicts handed down in our courts to how schools are run, from how our mail is delivered to protecting our neighborhoods. Corruption impacts Reginald Lafayette every person in every municipality in every state in America, and takes a toll explosive revelation now, she replied: “I Assemblyman for the 43rd district The Guardian asked Ms. Edwards on the pocketbook of the American want everyone to know the truth.” which encompasses Crown Heights, why she did not report the incident taxpayer. To back up her claim, she chal- Flatbush and Prospect Park. On to authorities immediately after it Border corruption, economic stim- lenged Lafayette to take a lie detector September 27, 2005, a Brooklyn jury occurred. She responded, “They are not ulus fraud, election crimes and bribery test, and agreed to do the same. convicted Norman of violating elections good people, and Reggie assured me are among the FBI’s top investigative Allegations of selling party endorse- laws and falsifying business records. In that nothing would ever come of any priorities. ments by the Mt. Vernon Democratic December that same year, Norman was investigation. I don’t have faith in the On Friday, June 4th, Mt. Vernon Committee are not new. The Guardian convicted again on charges that he stole system. The system is corrupt.” activist, Helena Edwards, publisher of learned that, during last year’s elec- $5,000 from his re-election campaign. Lafayette told The Guardian he the “Straight Talk in Mount Vernon” tion, Deveraux Cannic, the current On February 23, 2007, Norman was would welcome any investigation into blog, and wife of acting Westchester Mt. Vernon Democratic Committee convicted a third time for illegally solic- Edwards’s allegations. However, he Family Court Judge, Hon. Bill Edwards, Chair, also solicited money for endorse- iting contributions in connection with rebuffed her challenge to take mutual accused the current Westchester County ments. The menu included $50,000 judicial elections. Each verdict arose lie detector tests. “This is not the Maury Democratic Chairman, Reginald to purchase the party’s endorsement from an investigation by Kings County Povich show,” he said. “I don’t want to Lafayette, of attempting to shake her for Mt. Vernon City Comptroller District Attorney, Charles Hynes. The be taking any lie detector test and find down to guarantee the Democratic -- which the incumbent, Maureen investigation originally focused on sale out I’m the daddy” joked Lafayette. “My Party endorsement for her husband Walker, refused to pay, and $10,000 for of judgeships in exchange for campaign lawyer would tell me, ‘you have to be out seven years ago. the endorsement for Mt. Vernon City contributions to the Democratic Party. of your mind to be playing these stupid Ms. Edwards alleges Lafayette, Judge. Helen Blackwood received the In a telephone interview, Reginald games with lie detector tests,’” he said. who held the Mt. Vernon Democratic party’s endorsement and now sits on Lafayette, now the Westchester County It is no secret political power bosses Committee Chair in 2003 said “your the bench. According to the New York Democratic Chairman, told The in Westchester County and around the husband will be getting a ten-year one State Board of Elections, she paid. Guardian none of Ms. Edward’s allega- nation are being challenged and assailed million dollar job, and the Democratic Ms. Edwards compared endorse- tions are true.“It’s the most ridiculous by thousands of political blogs written Party is entitled to 10 percent of that.” ment selling in Mt. Vernon to the thing I have ever heard,” said Lafayette. by average citizens fed up with corrup- Ms Edwards told The Guardian her corruption perpetrated by Clarence “They should have reported me back tion in politics. Lafayette said, “These response to Lafayette was “get out of my Norman, the disgraced former Kings then in 2003.” Lafayette added, “How blogs disrupt peoples’ lives,” empha- face.” County Democratic Chairman. would they give me ten percent, that’s sizing that he “has no respect for them.” “We are good people,” she added. Norman was also the former Brooklyn $100,000? Give me a God damn break.” When asked why she was making this
Summary of Find Me the Votes by Michael Isikoff and Daniel Klaidman: A Hard-Charging Georgia Prosecutor, a Rogue President, and the Plot to Steal an American Election
Bernard Woodmansee, Sr. v. Eastern Regional Parole Commission United States Marshal's Service Randall Moran, Personally and in His Capacity as an Employee of the State of Vermont Attorney General's Office Michael Wilson, Individually and in His Professional Capacity as a United States Parole Officer Christian Hanson, Jr., Individually and in His Professional Capacity as United States Marshal for the District of Vermont John Doe, I-X, 107 F.3d 5, 2d Cir. (1997)