Former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno is slated to stand trial on corruption charges on Nov. 2 of this year.
On Jan. 23, Bruno was indicted on eight counts that he deprived citizens of their right to honest service. In the 35-page document, federal prosecutors alleged that the longtime statesman used his influence and contacts to steer business towards several companies that then paid him $3.2 million between 1993 and 2006.
Included in the indictment were the names of 16 unions that prosecutors say managed their benefit funds through Connecticut-based Wright Investors’ Service at the behest of Bruno, who was paid $1.4 million over a 12-year period for the Bruno accounts.
Bruno then allegedly moved to cover up his earnings in financial disclosures to the Legislative Ethics Committee, in part by doing business through his Capital Business Consultant group, which prosecutors say was a sham entity that performed no legitimate work.
A U.S. District Court scheduled the trial on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Bruno pleaded not guilty to the charges in January, and called the three-year investigation that lead to the indictment a `fishing expedition` and `witch hunt.`
Bruno represented the 43rd Senate District for 32 years. He made a late-breaking announcement last summer that he would not run for another term, and was replaced by Republican Roy McDonald in the November election.
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