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Kruger is accused of “receiving a stream of bribes totaling at least $1 million in exchange for taking official actions.” Among the charges in the complaint is that he shared fees paid to the lobbyist, Richard Lipsky, and then took “the very official acts in favor of which Lipsky had been paid to lobby." . . . [T]he detailed 53-page complaint portrays Senator Kruger as a lawmaker who offered a full range of corrupt services in exchange for bribe payments, performing official acts that included sponsoring and supporting legislation, lobbying other elected officials and directing state monies for the benefit of Mr. Lipsky and the lobbyist’s clients. |
Kruger is accused of “receiving a stream of bribes totaling at least $1 million in exchange for taking official actions.” Among the charges in the complaint is that he shared fees paid to the lobbyist, Richard Lipsky, and then took “the very official acts in favor of which Lipsky had been paid to lobby." . . . [T]he detailed 53-page complaint portrays Senator Kruger as a lawmaker who offered a full range of corrupt services in exchange for bribe payments, performing official acts that included sponsoring and supporting legislation, lobbying other elected officials and directing state monies for the benefit of Mr. Lipsky and the lobbyist’s clients. |
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===Homosexuality=== |
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Also exposed by the investigation was Kruger's closeted homosexuality, a long-standing rumor.<ref name=NY Post>Golding, Calder, and Mangan, Dan (2011-03-11) [http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/gay_pol_mil_bribe_out_rage_ez6JwuYoczyNwZDtsPd0LN#ixzz1GIFQc3hP Gay pol's $1 mil 'bribe' outrage], ''[[New York Post]]''</ref> As reported by the ''[[New York Post]]'': |
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Kruger and his secret longtime companion, Manhattan gynecologist Michael Turano, were among eight men arrested in a sweeping government "pay-to-play" corruption scandal. [...] A source close to the investigation told The Post that Kruger -- who voted against a state gay-marriage bill last year -- was particularly "intimate" with Michael Turano. |
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The proposal earned Kruger the "Nanny of the Month" Award from ''[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]]'' magazine.<ref>[http://reason.com/blog/2011/02/01/reasontv-nanny-of-the-month-ja Reason.tv: Nanny of the Month (Jan 2011) Drug Testing 11-year-olds! Fining iPod Users!], ''[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]]'' (Feb. 1, 2011)</ref> |
The proposal earned Kruger the "Nanny of the Month" Award from ''[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]]'' magazine.<ref>[http://reason.com/blog/2011/02/01/reasontv-nanny-of-the-month-ja Reason.tv: Nanny of the Month (Jan 2011) Drug Testing 11-year-olds! Fining iPod Users!], ''[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]]'' (Feb. 1, 2011)</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
Revision as of 12:37, 11 March 2011
Carl Kruger | |
---|---|
Member of the New York State Senate from the 27th district | |
Assumed office 1994 | |
Preceded by | Donald Halperin |
Personal details | |
Born | Brooklyn, New York |
Political party | Democratic |
Carl Kruger, a Democrat, represents District 27 in the New York State Senate, which comprises Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend, Bergen Beach, Mill Basin, and Midwood, among other neighborhoods found within the New York City borough of Brooklyn. On March 9, 2011, the New York Daily News revealed that Kruger would be indicted on federal bribery charges. On Thursday, March 10, 2011, Kruger was among eight individuals (including another State legislator) who "surrendered to face charges in a federal corruption case accusing the lawmakers of taking bribes over the course of a decade in schemes large and small."[1]
Biography
Chosen in a special election in 1994, Kruger is a former Ranking Minority member on the Senate Committee on Aging as well as a member of the Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections, Energy and Telecommunications committees, among other standing committee assignments.[2] In February 2007, then Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno appointed him Chairman of the Senate Social Services Committee, making him the first minority party senator to chair a committee in New York history.
In 2003, Kruger joined a group of legislators suing Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Department of Education, seeking a court injunction to stop New York City from doing away with 32 community school districts and superintendents under Michael Bloomberg's proposed reforms to New York City's education system.
Representing what is New York's single largest Russian-American community, Kruger publishes what is purportedly the only Russian-language newsletter printed by elected officials within New York City. Kruger also hosts a weekly program on the Brooklyn Community Access Television (BCAT) channel called Brooklyn Beat, which discusses topical issues related to the borough of Brooklyn.
In February 2007, Kruger presented legislation attempting to ban the use of electronic devices, such as mp3 players and mobile phones, in New York City crosswalks.[3]
Prior to his election to the New York State Senate, Kruger was the Assistant Director of Member Services for the New York State Assembly for a decade, as well as the Chairman of Community Board 18.
Kruger is one of three senators, known as the "Gang of Three", who has threatened to abandon the Democratic majority elected to the New York State Senate on November 4, 2008. A fourth, Senator-elect Hiram Monserrate, backed out of the group in early November.[4][5]
On December 2, 2009, Kruger was one of eight Democrats to vote against same-sex marriage legislation, which failed to pass the Senate.[6]
David Irving letter
On October 20, 2009, at the instance of a letter from Kruger and twelve other New York State and City officeholders led by New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind to American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault, American Express rescinded its Merchants Agreement with prominent Holocaust revisionist David Irving.[7][8]
Controversies
Federal corruption investigation and indictment
On June 25, 2010, the New York Times revealed that the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn were investigating Kruger for allegedly seeking campaign contributions in exchange for political favors.[9] On March 9, 2011, Kruger was indicted on charges of bribery and profiting from a hospital merger he supported.[10]
On Thursday, March 10, 2011, Kruger was among eight individuals (including another State legislator) who "surrendered to face charges in a federal corruption case accusing the lawmakers of taking bribes over the course of a decade in schemes large and small."[1] According to the New York Times:[1]
Kruger is accused of “receiving a stream of bribes totaling at least $1 million in exchange for taking official actions.” Among the charges in the complaint is that he shared fees paid to the lobbyist, Richard Lipsky, and then took “the very official acts in favor of which Lipsky had been paid to lobby." . . . [T]he detailed 53-page complaint portrays Senator Kruger as a lawmaker who offered a full range of corrupt services in exchange for bribe payments, performing official acts that included sponsoring and supporting legislation, lobbying other elected officials and directing state monies for the benefit of Mr. Lipsky and the lobbyist’s clients.
Homosexuality
Also exposed by the investigation was Kruger's closeted homosexuality, a long-standing rumor.Cite error: The <ref>
tag has too many names (see the help page). As reported by the New York Post:
Kruger and his secret longtime companion, Manhattan gynecologist Michael Turano, were among eight men arrested in a sweeping government "pay-to-play" corruption scandal. [...] A source close to the investigation told The Post that Kruger -- who voted against a state gay-marriage bill last year -- was particularly "intimate" with Michael Turano.
iPod bill
In 2011, Kruger introduced a bill "that would ban the use of mobile phones, iPods or other electronic devices while crossing streets —runners and other exercisers included."[11] According to the New York Times:
As it is written, Mr. Kruger’s proposal, which was first introduced in 2007, would apply only to cities with populations of one million or more. But Mr. Kruger would like to expand the bill to cover even smaller cities. Violators would face a civil summons and a $100 fine.
“This is not government interference,” he said. “This is more like saying, ‘You’re doing something that could be detrimental to yourself and others around you.’”[11]
The proposal earned Kruger the "Nanny of the Month" Award from Reason magazine.[12]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "2 State Legislators Surrender in Corruption Case". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ http://collegedemsny.com/blog/
- ^ Reuters. "New York may ban iPods while crossing street." washingtonpost.com. February 7, 2007. Retrieved on February 8, 2007.
- ^ New York Times. "Democrats Take State Senate." nytimes.com. November 5, 2008. Retrieved on November 5, 2008.
- ^ Benjamin, Elizabeth. Monserrate The Odd Man Out The Daily Politics. The Daily News
- ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/12/gay-marriage-fails-24-38.html
- ^ Siemaszko, Corky. "American Express says Holocaust denier David Irving's no 'merchant,' thanks to Assemblyman Hikind". New York Daily News. October 21, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
- ^ "State & Local Officials Join Hikind in Denouncing American Express' Involvement with Holocaust Denier." Yeshiva World. October 21, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
- ^ "Brooklyn Senator a Focus of Federal Corruption Inquiry" New York Times. June 25, 2010
- ^ Kenneth Lovett & Greg B. Smith (2011-03-09). "State Sen. Carl Kruger to surrender to feds on bribery charges, cashing in on hospital merger". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
- ^ a b Saulny, Susan and Richtel, Matt (2011-01-25) States’ Lawmakers Turn Attention to the Dangers of Distracted Pedestrians, New York Times
- ^ Reason.tv: Nanny of the Month (Jan 2011) Drug Testing 11-year-olds! Fining iPod Users!, Reason (Feb. 1, 2011)
External links
- New York State Senate: Carl Kruger
- Legislative Report Card: The Business Council of New York State
- Project Vote Smart-Senator Kruger-Interest Group Ratings
- Gotham Gazette's Eye On Albany: New York State Senate: District 27
- Kruger To Stay Put
- New York may ban iPods while crossing street