As we read the daily dispatches from his corruption trial, the Center for Working Families ? a think tank affiliated with the Working Families Party ? issued a report tracking Pedro Espada?s ?legal corruption.?
Essentially, the labor-backed think tank takes issue with Espada?s high concentration of political donations from the real estate industry, mostly focused outside his district. (Of course, and I say this only half jokingly, how much weight can you put on a report based on Espada?s campaign finance filings? He was, ahem, less than scrupulous at following the disclosure reports.)
Anyway.
Espada has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, and as always, questions the political motivations of his accusers. He has never faced any charges arising from his campaign accounts, and as the CWF report admits, taking money from out-of-district contributors is perfectly legal.
Here are some top-line findings from the report:
- Espada?s fundraising increased more than 650% after he became the Senate?s Housing Committee chair
- More than half of the $484,8551.51 he raised from 2009 through 2010 came from the industry that lobbies the Housing Committee ? the real estate industry
- Only three contributions came from within his own district.
If New York State had a fair elections system with tough enforcement provisions ? the kind of system New York City already has ? this kind of ?easy money? would be much harder to come by. In New York City, candidates raise more money from local donors and smaller donors, lessening the influence of outside money and wealthy interests.
Espada doesn?t have to worry about having to account for how he raised his campaign money, or how he spent it.? Loose state laws allow politicians to spend this money on virtually anything.
The entire report is below.
Legal Corruption ? CWF on Espada
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