Andrew Cuomo Announces Charges Against Former Liberal Party Boss

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo today announced charges against former Liberal Party leader Raymond Harding in connection with an investigation into the state pension fund.

According to Cuomo, Harding received $800,000 in illegal fees on state pension deals as a reward for opening an Assembly seat for former State Comptroller Alan Hevesi’s son, Andrew.

Cuomo charges that Harding helped the incumbent assemblyman get a six-figure job at an insurance company to vacate the seat.

The AG says Hevesi’s son was unaware of the arrangement. Andrew Hevesi was elected to the Assembly in May 2005.

Harding was released on a bail deal that he must honor by April 22nd. Under that deal, he will pay a $100,000 bail bond and surrender his passport. He will also be restricted from traveling outside of New York and Massachussets without approvel from Cuomo’s office.

Harding’s attorney says he will fight these charges.

The attorney general also announced that hedge fund manager Barrett Wissman has plead guilty to charges related to a pay-to-play scheme. In addition, Cuomo said Wissman will pay $12 million in forfeiture and penalties.

The charges stem from an investigation into allegations of pay-to-play corruption under the former state comptroller.

Source: NY1

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