Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Bribery Convicted Lawmaker Rumored to be 'Fed Chatting'

B'KLYN POL CONVICTED OF BRIBERY
By ALEX GINSBERG

April 9, 2008 -- Four-term Brooklyn Assemblywoman Diane Gordon was convicted yesterday of accepting a promise of a free house in return for helping a crooked developer win a contract to build on city land.
Gordon, a Democrat, was found guilty of third-degree bribe-receiving and official misconduct.

The panel acquitted her of the most serious charge, second-degree bribe-receiving, following almost three days of deliberation in Brooklyn Supreme Court. The disgraced pol nevertheless faces up to 10 years in prison. "Talk to the lawyer," was the only comment Gordon offered as she left court free on $35,000 bail until her May 20 sentencing. "We're going to do our best to see that the sentence is one of probation or less," said the lawyer, Bernard Udell.

Regardless of what that sentence turns out to be, Assembly rules require that Gordon, 58, be stripped of her seat, which means her East New York district will go unrepresented until the winner of this November's election takes office in January.

Additional reporting by Kenneth Lovett alex.ginsberg@nypost.com

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