Bruno Trial Begins ALBANY, NEW YORK (WXXI) - It was day one in the trial of former State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, accused of federal corruption charges in connection with some of his business interests.

Bruno is accused of masterminding illegal pay to play schemes, and receiving over $3 million dollars in illegal gifts from businesses, unions and others who had interests before the legislature, during the Senator's long tenure as Majority Leader.

The former Senate Majority Leader, who, until he retired last year was one of the state's most powerful politicians, entered the federal courthouse in Albany around 8:30 am, proclaiming his innocence.

"I've been looking forward for a long time to this day," Bruno said. "I've done nothing wrong, and over these next several weeks, that's going to be proven."

Inside the court room, the former Senate Leader, known for his charm and sense of humor, chatted with family members, current and former staffers, and even the media, while he waited for jury selection to begin.

The Senator, now 80 years old, sat straight in his chair, shoulders squared, and listened attentively during proceedings, as attorneys for the defense and the prosecution questioned prospective jurors.

Judge Gary Sharpe told the jury poll that Bruno has been accused of using wire and mail fraud to deprive the public of their intangible right to honest services during a 13 year period when he was Majority Leader, and that it's up to the federal prosecutors to prove their case, beyond a reasonable doubt.

Assistant US Attorney Elizabeth Coombe, in opening statements, said during the course of the trial, federal prosecutors will prove that Bruno "exploited his position" as one of the "three most powerful men in New York State", for "personal gain".

Bruno's chief defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, told the jury that "prosecutors made a mistake", and that Bruno, when he was Senator, was a "hard working, honest public servant". Lowell promised to draw on Bruno's hard scrabble immigrant roots and self-made success story to help refute the charges.

The former Senator is the first major state politician to be tried under the federal theft of honest services statute for alleged pay to play schemes involving businesses that that Bruno owned or was associated with.

But in recent years several other state Senators and Assemblymembers have been accused, convicted or gone to prison on charges of bribery, illegal pay- to- play activities and other transgressions.

Blair Horner, with the New York Public Interest Research Group, says New York's entire ethics system is under intense scrutiny, along with Bruno.

"The ethics laws of New York State are on trial," said Horner.

Horner is not weighing in on Bruno's innocence or guilt, but says the publicity of the trial may spur state lawmakers to finally overhaul their ethics regulations, or at least change some of the time honored practices in state government.

"The fundamental question here is, can you use your elective office to benefit your personal finances?" Horner asked. "In Albany, that's commonplace."

Government reform groups have long complained about lax ethics laws and standards, particularly in the legislature, where the guidelines are vague and almost no one is ever punished for transgressions. Horner says that can lead to a culture of corruption.

"People would behave differently if there was a cop walking the beat", Horner said.

The trial is expected to last four to six weeks. Bruno faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, if convicted on all charges.


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