Federal Bureau of Investigation

The Washington Post's Joe Stephens has a story today about the FBI's 15 year-long surveillance of Norman Mailer, which began in 1962 after Mr. Mailer wrote an article about Jacqueline Kennedy for Esquire.

According to Mr. Stephens:

FBI agents closely tracked the grand and mundane aspects of the acclaimed novelist's life, according to previously confidential government files. Agents questioned his friends, scoured his passport file, thumbed through his best-selling books and circulated his photo among informants. They kept records on his appearances at writers conferences, talk shows and peace rallies. They noted the volume of envelopes in his mailbox and jotted down who received his Christmas cards.  read more »

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The outcry from Congressional Democrats was justifiably loud when conservative members resorted to p  read more »

Zack Snyder’s 300, from a screenplay by Mr. Snyder, Kurt Johnstad and Michael B.  read more »

I just got off the phone with state Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr., who is reportedly the subject of a federal investigation into voter fraud, along with his son, Assemblyman Ruben Diaz, Jr.

Which was all news to the elder Diaz.

"I don't know anything about it. They haven't contacted me yet. Nobody has called me. Nobody has contacted. So, I know as much as you do," he said when reached by cell phone just now.

"I have tons of enemies out there trying to get me. Because of my position. You know, I've been outspoken on certain issues, like gay marriage, abortion. All those things. I might create enemies."

He continued.

"But to me, this is a political hit. I don't know what they're talking about."

I asked him whether he thought the investigation was initially targeted at him or his son.

"My son is a clean guy. He's a candidate for borough president. I mean, he's not running. He's one of the candidates that's been mentioned. And you know, me, I've been outspoken in the state Senate."

He went to say, "So, what's going on, I don't know. The FBI hasn't contacted me yet."

-- Azi Paybarah

So why would Republican Majority Leader Joe Bruno appoint Democrat Carl Kruger to head the Social Service Committee? In one sense, it helps firm up Bruno's majority by maintaining friendly ties to a member of the growing Democratic minority.

But Liz sees more personal influences at play:

Kruger, as you may recall, released a statement in support of Bruno after the majority leader revealed late last year that his outside business interests are the subject of an FBI probe. Kruger said questions about Bruno's integrity were "appalling and ironic," given his commitment to "openness and fairness." Kruger also has local ties to Bruno: Tom Connolly, vice chairman of the state Independence Party and chair of the Indy Party in Rensselaer County - Bruno's home base - is on Kruger's payroll. Connolly is a Bruno ally from way, way back.

-- Azi Paybarah

Republican State Senator John Bonacic, who publicly called for Joe Bruno to step down from his leadership position in the face of an FBI probe, wasn't in the Senate chamber when the conference re-elected Bruno to another two-year term.

Bonacic then avoided most of the reporters waiting for him at one of the Senate chambers by taking the long route from the Senate to the Assembly. Later, after Spitzer's State of the State, Bonacic tried slipping by the throng of reporters in the Assembly chamber's foyer who were waiting to chat with Mayor Bloomberg.

As he walked by, the tireless Michael Scotto of New York 1 News finally got Bonacic to talk, reluctantly.

"I don't think its appropriate today," he said. "The conference supported Joe Bruno, and this is not a day uh, to be belittling the leaders that the conference had picked. That's for another day."

-- Azi Paybarah

Today, Joe Bruno is expected to be re-elected by Senate Republicans as their Majority Leader, despite an FBI probe into his business dealing with a lobbyist.

The lone dissenting vote is expected to come from John Bonacic of New Paltz, who told his colleagues the conference needs a new leader.

I chatted with Bonacic a couple of days ago and he said, "I had no endgame. I was not planning a coup. I didn't call a lot of members saying 'join me.'"

The inevitable retribution for his impertinence seems like a high price to pay for a gesture. But he said he had his reasons.

The FBI is looking into $500,000 in member items Bruno steered to a lobbyist he has private business with, Jared Abbruzzese. Bruno also runs a consulting company whose clients and transactions are not well-known.

"I never knew that he had a consulting company," Bonacic told me "This was disturbing to me. It's not right what I saw happening. For me, with my own standards, its time for new leadership, I'm hoping."

He also said, "I didn't go on tour with newspapers and tv and radio. I wrote a confidential member to my colleagues why we need new leadership. I can't do more than that."

When I asked how his letter got publicized, Bonancic said, "My office did not leak it. If other people did, than we have personal agendas going on. But its not my agenda. I came to Albany to serve the people, not a leader."

-- Azi Paybarah

At a press conference having to do with a mental health bill, Governor Pataki addressed the Hevesi resignation. "I'm very concerned about the operations of the comptroller's office...I'm concerned about the interim [before a replacement is appointed], what will happen." The governor also said he wasn't sure who exactly will sign the next round of state paychecks.

Pataki drew a contrast between Hevesi's admitted wrongdoing and the allegations currently swirling around the man standing behind him, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. "I've said time and again: I have confidence in Senator Bruno," the governor said. "I have confidence in the system... I expect come January 3, Senator Bruno will be the majority leader."

The vote of confidence is notable, in that the governor's initial statement about the case--"Hopefully, the senator has done everything right, and that will be what the conclusion is"--was read by some to be less-than-supportive. Obviously, everyone knows they're not horseback-riding buddies.

After the press conference was done, reporters descended on Bruno. He said of the hoopla about the FBI investigation into his business practices:

"This is more of a media event, and when I indicated we were being totally cooperative, and that there was an inquiry, and that I'm letting the Feds do their work, and they're diligent enough and I have been elected by the people, by my conference to govern. And I would appreciate the press, if they would just give me an opportunity, objectively, and fairly, to govern."

UPDATE: To be a bit more specific, the press conference had to do with Timothy's Law, which would require that insurance companies cover various serious mental illnesses, particularly in children. It's a shame that got overshadowed.

-- Azi Paybarah

As you may have heard, Joe Bruno held a press conference yesterday afternoon to announce he was under investigation by the F.B.I. Bruno said he made the disclosure after learning that reporters had discovered the existence of the probe.

The Post's Fred Dicker says he was digging around Bruno's consulting firm, Capital Business Consultants.

The Daily News says it's all about his relationship to businessman Jared Abbruzzese.

Flashback: The Times had an investigative piece on Bruno's relationship to Abbruzzese, who is bidding for a contract to operate the state's horse racing tracks, on Saturday.

The investigation "doesn't come as a shock," says the Post editorial page, more in sorrow than in anger.

Bruno's business dealings "demand a close look by Cuomo," says the News' editorial page, more in anger than in sorrow.

The old gang--Peter Powers, Randy Mastro, Howard Safir, Andrew Eristoff--all turned out for Rudy's $2,100-a-plate fundraiser at the Mariott Marquis in Times Square.

Not coincidentally, John McCain released a list of 57 important New York supporters.

Newsday says the turnout for Rudy's event "appeared to fall short" of what was neccessary to raise $1 million.

The Washington Post warns that conservatives and "activists in key primary states are skeptical" about a Rudy run.

Mayor Bloomberg is casting doubt on the city's ability to raise the funds neccessary to host the 2008 Democratic Convention.

Republican Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore is considering a run for president.

Rahm Emmanuel's successor at the DCCC will be Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen.

The Albany DA confirms he is negotiating a plea deal with Alan Hevesi.

"He can either go to Florida or go to Attica," a "high-ranking Democrat" tells the News.

Sheldon Silver is poised to approve the Atlantic Yards project, the Post reports.

Eliot Spitzer isn't getting his first choice to be health commissioner.

Ellis Henican says it's time for Peter Kalikow and the MTA to take over the Long Island Railroad.

--Andrew Rice

This morning, Judge Liam O'Grady ruled that New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof will not be forced to disclose his two FBI sources in a case brought against him by former Army scientist Steven Hatfill. However, by withholding the sources, sanctions were imposed against the newspaper.

Last month, the Times was ordered to reveal Mr. Kristof's confidential sources that provided information for several columns written about the 2001 anthrax mailings. The Justice Department named Mr. Hatfill a "person of interest" in the anthrax investigation, but he was never charged.

In an Alexandria, VA courtroom, around 10:30 a.m., Judge O'Grady imposed evidentiary sanctions against the Times. If the Times will not name the sources, then the newspaper "will not be able to rely on their FBI sources" in their defense, according to Charles Kimmett, an attorney for Mr. Hatfill.

The judge denied a request by the plaintiffs that the Times be fined $25,000 a day for non-compliance with the order to reveal sources.

A trial date has now been set for January 29, 2007.

"We're confident, based on the discovery we've taken, that we will present a strong case for Dr. Hatfill," said Mr. Kimmett.

-Michael Calderone

Who Controls The Schools?    read more »

The unsigned editorial in last Friday’s New York Times made all the appropriate noises:  read more »

The unsigned editorial in last Friday’s New York Times made all the appropriate noises:  read more »

According to sources in the Lieberman and Lamont camps, turnout in Connecticut is exceeding 35 percent. Conventional wisdom is that the higher numbers bode well for the incumbent Lieberman, but the Lamont campaign seems convinced that the numbers simply account for voters excited to vote the senator out of office. And as far as the whole Lieberman website goes, it's still down, and now, according to Dan Gerstein, the FBI is involved.

"The FBI has begun to interview people on our staff. They are taking this very seriously," said Gerstein.

--Jason Horowitz

The Lieberman site is still down. Complaints have been filed on the state and federal level. And now, the FBI is getting involved.

"The FBI has begun to interview people on or staff. They are taking this very seriously," said Dan Gerstein.

At this point, nobody knows who is to blame. But this guy was causing trouble at Lieberman's polling station this morning in New Haven.  read more »

--Jason Horowitz

My entry on the Sopranos yesterday generated some wise comment. Three readers said I am wrong about feds tipping off mobsters. Most persuasively, Mark:

Regarding the agent tipping off Tony; Trust me , it happens. Please reference the famous gangster Whitey Bulger in Boston who was in fact an undercover fink for the feds and was tipped off by an FBI agent regarding his imminent arrest. He fled and never seen again.

And Kit got at the mythic bass-line of the show:

The recurring theme from year to year has been the inexorable cycle in which Tony and the main characters are trapped. Carmella repeats the sins of Tony's mother; Tony repeats the sins of his father. They all live in Samsara, a cyclical hell of their own bad karma and that of their predecessors.

But in the season finale, it appeared that perhaps AJ -- who we'd all pegged as an up-and-coming thug -- has suddenly found himself clear of the whole mess. Rather than using violence to solve a problem, he chooses a more skillful resolution. Rather than trading on his father's connections to buy love, he earns his own way...

If this continues, Tony has actually found a degree of salvation. By stepping up and being the father he never had, forcing AJ to awaken from his stupor, he has broken the wheel to which all the characters are chained.

Humble thanks to the writers!

Representative William Jefferson (D., Mo.) has no hot money stashed in his office.  read more »

With Shooting Star, Tom Wicker found an apt title for this absorbing and highly readable account of  read more »

Also at this morning’s Crain’s breakfast, Bill Weld took another shot at explaining Al D’Amato’s grudge against him (which reportedly extends, today, to trying to recruit yet another GOPer to run for Governor.)

Weld recalled that when he ran for Senate in 1996, D’Amato -- then chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee -- called him in to hand over a $750,000 check. He also berated Weld for the fact that Robert Mueller -- a Weld protege, now FBI director -- was involved in the failed prosecution of the Senator’s brother, Armand.

"If I ever see that expletive Mueller at an expletive fundraiser I’m going to get every expletive dollar of that back out of your hide."

The Boston Herald writes up a new book on the notorious Bulger brothers, and doesn't think it's good news for the campaign.

" Under Weld's aegis as U.S. attorney, Whitey basically turned the FBI into a wholly owned subsidiary of his Winter Hill Gang. And Weld not only befriended Billy Bulger, he eventually found him a soft landing place at UMass."

And you thought Al D'Amato was unhappy with his days as a prosecutor.

Petrocelli Electric, whose office was raided yesterday in connection to Operation City Lights, just issued a statement to defend their "impeccable reputation for integrity, excellent service and devotion to our customers, which we are committed to preserving."

They note:

A representative of the U.S. Attorney's Office has advised our counsel that neither Petrocelli Electric nor any of its shareholders, employees or officers is a target of any criminal investigation. We have cooperated and will continue to cooperate with the FBI's investigation.

Also worth noting is who specifically sent the message: Jonathan Capehart, a noted advisor to Mike during his campaign.

--Azi Paybarah

I wrote yesterday that the bid-rigging scandal is a "huge black eye" for the Department of Transportation, which was perhaps premature. The details of the case will bear on that.

Yesterday, the Bloomberg administration managed to get into Channel 4's second story that this was a joint investigation with the FBI and the Department of Investigations which put out a 6:17 p.m. press release calling the investigation "longstanding."

The best I could determine from a source familiar with the matter is that "longstanding" means "years." Unclear how many.

Channel 4 reported that the scam may go back to the late years of the Giuliani administration. In the best case for Bloomberg, the fraud was suspected in, say, 2000 or 2001, and was only allowed to continue for the authorities to gather evidence. In the worst, "years" means "two years," and the city was ripped off for half a decade before the feds caught on.

The question is whether it's fair to (partially) blame the victim, DOT, here. Is the apparent situation, in which DOT relies entirely on two contractors for street lighting, and is ripped off by them, the sort of thing that could have happened just as easily in the private sector? Or is it a function of, at the very best, shoddy oversight and a relaxed attitude toward public money? We'll find out.

Channel 4's very well-sourced Jonathan Dienst(the same guy who had last fall's terror warning story) laid out the story behind the Central Labor Council raid just now, which appears to have focused on Council president Brian McLaughlin and a set of electrical contractors who -- Diesnt reports -- allegedly conspired with him to rip off the Department of Transportation.

The FBI's "Operation City Lights," according to the report (and Dienst had cameras in place at three separate raids) targeted McLaughlin's district office as well as the Labor Council's headquarters.

It sounds like an old-time bid-rigging scam: The suggestion is that electrical contractors divvied up neighborhoods, setting "low-bids" in advance, with other contractors deliberately bidding too high on street light contracts. McLaughlin was allegedly compensated with cash, an American Express card, and the installation of his alarm system.

McLaughlin, it's worth noting, came up as an electrical worker.

Also: Another huge black eye for the city's Department of Transportation.

More pictures after the jump.  read more »

--Azi Paybarah

The Politicker's Azi Paybarah was turned away from the Central Labor Council's West 15th street office after seeing at least three FBI agents combing over the third-floor headquarters, other agents in the building, and a blue FBI van pulling away out front.

Azi reports that he was kind enough to open the door for three more FBI agents in windbreakers, entering the building carrying stacks of empty cardboard boxes.

A person who identified himself as the CLC's secretary told The Politicker that Central Labor Council chief Brian McLaughlin was apparently not in the building at the time of the raid.

A reader who thinks that Jeanine Pirro's bid for Attorney General would be something less than a walk sends over the results of a private poll done earlier this year of 500 in Western Nassau County, which included a short section testing a negative Pirro message. The poll's margin for error is plus/minus 4.3 points.

Pirro's support against an unnamed Democrat dropped by eight points, or about a third, with the following message:  read more »

"Westchester District Attorney Jeanine Pirro wants to be our Attorney General, but New Yorkers just can't trust her. Pirro's husband, a lobbyist, was convicted of federal tax evasion and conspiracy, and went to jail. Pirro even signed the documents that were the focus of the investigation that sent her husband to jail. And, an investigation by the FBI shows that Pirro's husband had told mob bosses about a case she was working on. How can Pirro serve as the top law enforcement official if she can't keep a secret from mob bosses or follow the law in her own house?"

Maybe eight points isn't that bad. But the poll is a sign that that run for A.G. could get a bit messy. Al Pirro won't be off-limits for Mark, Andrew, et al. the way he is for Hillary.

Today's must-read is a long piece in the Albany Times Union:

"For seven years, a secret FBI investigation has targeted corruption in state government, slowly moving ever higher up Albany's political food chain. Only now is the extent of the inquiry emerging. "  read more »

The paper had to sue to get the relevant documents. Unclear whether the investigation is still open.

It was grimly unsurprising that the usual suspects lined up to condemn Mark Felt, a.k.a.  read more »

Woodward, Bernstein, and Bradlee confirm it. An FBI official, W. Mark Felt, was Deep Throat.

"The thing that stuns me is that the goddamn secret has lasted this long," says Bradlee.  read more »

Amazing.

So who's the FBI informant inside Democratic fundraising circles?

Well, we still don't know for sure. But given the clues we listed, we sure are struck by today's guilty plea, in a bank fraud case, of Raymond Reggie.

According to the Associated Press today:

"Reggie is the son of Edmund Reggie, a former judge and longtime friend of former Gov. Edwin Edwards. The younger Reggie's sister, Victoria, is married to U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass....  read more »

"As a political consultant, Raymond Reggie has worked on the campaigns of several well-known Democrats, including President Bill Clinton and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, and the presidential campaign of former Vice President Al Gore."

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Congress is in an inquisitive mood, which, all things considered, is generally better for the common  read more »

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I have been contributing in print to a yearly film canon since 1958, and my research extends back to  read more »

And so a month has passed. Thirty days that feel like a lifetime.  read more »

I was just watching the rerun of the final episode of The Sopranos ' second season, the one inwhich  read more »

A white neon sign on West 32nd Street just a few steps from Seventh Avenue announces the seemingly u  read more »