State Sen. Shirley Huntley, a Queens Democrat, was arrested earlier today on charges of corruption, falsifying business records, tampering with an investigation and running a "sham" education nonprofit, according to state investigators.
Ms. Huntley, 74, turned herself into Nassau County officials earlier today after holding an unusual press conference Saturday to say she expected to be arrested.
The joint investigation was announced by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a former Senate colleague of Ms. Huntley's, and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli as part of their Joint Task Force on Public Integrity initiative.
The two state officials said Ms. Huntley, two of her aides and a third individual used the nonprofit to bilk taxpayers of almost $30,000. Parent Workshop Inc., founded by Ms. Huntley, was used to allegedly funnel public money to her aide Patricia Savage and Lynn Smith, her niece, according to the indictment. Ms. Savage and Ms. Smith are accused of pocketing $29,950 from discretionary money allocated by Ms. Huntley.
Ms. Huntley provided documents to the attorney general and Department of State that claimed Parent Workshop had used the money to hold workshops and conduct community outreach. But Mr. Schneiderman and Mr. DiNapoli claim the documents were forged and that the nonprofit existed only on paper.
One piece of evidence displayed by the attorney general was a handwritten letter that Mr. Schneiderman said served as a template for a falsified, backdated letter from the Southern Queens Park Association, a separate nonprofit. The superseding indictment also charges David Gantt, a consultant, with falsifying documents to claim that he was paid in cash for conducting workshops for Ms. Huntley's nonprofit.
"The individuals who schemed to profit at the taxpayers' expense and cover it up will be held accountable," Mr. Schneiderman said in a statement.
Mr. DiNapoli added: "Public service is a privilege and a trust that should never be violated."
Senate Democratic leader John Sampson released a statement soon after the indictment to announce that he had stripped Ms. Huntley of her committee ranking and leadership positions, effective immediately.
Ms. Huntley's indictment marks the first time Mr. Schneiderman has brought charges against a member of the state Legislature since he took office in January 2011. Mr. Schneiderman and Mr. DiNapoli both served in the Legislature before taking their current posts. At a press conference Monday, Mr. Schneiderman claimed this was the first time an attorney general had filed charges against a sitting lawmaker in New York state.
Ms. Huntley's spokeswoman said her indictment was politically motivated. The senator is facing a primary challenge from City Councilman James Sanders and another Democrat on Sept. 13.
"Senator Huntley maintains her innocence and believes in our judicial system, and will be exonerated on all charges," a spokeswoman said. "The fact this came out weeks before the primary election is no coincidence."
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