Ethics Commission says Hevesi Violated State Law

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The New York Sun

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – Comptroller Alan Hevesi violated state law by failing to pay the state nearly $83,000 for the use of a staffer to drive for his ailing wife despite a 2003 advisory from the state Ethics Commission that he should, the commission ruled Monday.

“The Commission concludes that there is reasonable cause to believe that Mr. Hevesi knowingly and intentionally used his position as New York state comptroller to secure unwarranted privileges for himself and his wife, and in doing so, pursued a course of conduct that raises suspicion among the public that he likely engaged in acts that violated the public trust.”

Mr. Hevesi, a former Assemblyman seeking a second four-year term as the state’s chief financial officer, acknowledged last month that he had not paid the state back for the cost of having his ailing wife driven around by a state employee since 2003. Hevesi later apologized publicly and repaid the state $82,688 for the worker’s service.

The Queens Democrat paid up earlier this month only after Republican challenger J. Christopher Callaghan went public with the issue.

Mr. Hevesi subsequently sent a letter to the ethics commission for a review of his actions. After Monday’s ruling, he could face a fine, suspension or removal from office. Commission spokesman Walter Ayres said the legislature, where Mr. Hevesi served for 22 years, will determine the penalty.

He also faces a criminal probe by Albany County District Attorney David Soares.

Mr. Hevesi had no immediate comment Monday.

The same employee who was driving Carol Hevesi around did the same duty for Hevesi when he was New York City comptroller. Hevesi would up paying the city back about $6,000.

A WNBC/Marist College poll released Friday showed Hevesi leading Callaghan 62 percent to 22 percent among likely voters. Another 16 percent were undecided.

Still, 51 percent of those surveyed said Mr. Hevesi acted unethically in failing to pay the state for the driver’s service. Another 37 percent believed he did something illegal. Only 7 percent of likely voters thought he did nothing wrong.


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