On September 19, proceedings began in the criminal trial of John Haggerty, who is accused of taking over $1,000,000 in funds from the New York Independence Party and not carrying out the political work that he had contracted to do. He was supposed to help organize poll watchers on election day in November 2009 who would help Bloomberg’s campaign. Bloomberg had given the money to the Independence Party, and then the party had given the money to Haggerty. After the first full day, only five potential jurors had been identified. See this story. The case is People v Haggerty, New York County 2598/2010.
Jim Neighbors / Gomer Pyle: Sha zam! Surprise, surprise, surprise! [Not! *personal experience* Frank MacKay is just as bad ……….]
As part of this case, the court has frozen the house account of the Independence Party. It contains part of the supposed stolen money, around $250,000, that the prosecutors want back until the case is resolved. For now the court just froze the entire account. Haggerty returned some of the money to the IP and their lawyers say they want to hold it until the case is done.