Alan Hevesi
Encyclopedia
Alan G. Hevesi is a Democratic politician who
served as a New York State Assembly
man from 1971 to 1993, as Comptroller
of the City of New York from 1994 to 2001, and as State Comptroller for the State of New York from 2003 to 2006. Hevesi is originally from Queens
, New York, and is of Jewish faith.[dead link]
Hevesi was first elected State Comptroller in 2002 and won re-election in 2006. However, he resigned from office effective December 22, 2006, as part of a plea bargain with the Albany County
Court, based on his personal use of state employees to care for his ailing wife, in lieu of a grand jury indictment. In February 2007 Hevesi was sentenced to a $5000 fine and permanently banned from holding elective office again; he received no jail time and no probation. He later plead guilty to corruption charges surrounding a "pay to play" scheme regarding the New York State Pension Fund, and was sentenced to 1–4 years on April 15, 2011.
and as representative to the United Nations for several Jewish NGOs. His brother is Dennis Hevesi, a reporter for The New York Times
. His grandfather was Simon Hevesi, Chief Rabbi of Budapest prior to World War II.
Alan Hevesi received his PhD in Public Law & Government from Columbia University
in 1971. He earned a B.A. degree in Political Science from Queens College, CUNY. The title of his doctoral dissertation was Legislative Leadership in New York State. His dissertation has been archived by University Microfilms International
http://wwwlib.umi.com/dxweb/search and the document number is 7201325. http://wwwlib.umi.com/dxweb/details?doc_no=1916663
Hevesi and his wife Carol have been residents of Forest Hills, Queens
.
in the New York State Assembly
, rising to chair various committees and be considered a potential Assembly Speaker. Simultaneously (from 1967 to 1993), he was an associate professor
of political science
at Queens College in Flushing, New York.
Hevesi claims credit for authoring 108 laws as an assemblyman. He is a close ally of New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
.
. In 1993, he came back to challenge Holtzman in the primary, following ethics accusations against Holtzman. Holtzman had taken a questionable loan from Fleet Bank, which Hevesi assailed her on during an NY1
debate. Hevesi was also supported by Geraldine Ferraro
, a former Congresswoman and Vice Presidential running mate of Walter Mondale
. Ferraro, upset over Holtzman's 1992 Senate race attack, even went as far to encourage her candidacy to oppose Holtzman. (Hevesi and Ferraro would later become estranged.) The politically powerful health care union Local 1199, led by Jennifer Cunningham, gave Hevesi its endorsement. Hevesi defeated Holtzman to secure the Democratic nomination. Hevesi then defeated former Congressman Herman Badillo
, the Republican candidate in the general election.
He served two terms as New York City Comptroller from 1994 to 2002, when he was term-limited out of the office.
, Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer
, and New York City Council Speaker Peter Vallone. Hevesi was the Liberal Party nominee for Mayor in the general election, but did not campaign in the race; instead, he endorsed Green for mayor in the general election. Following his defeat in the mayor's race, Hevesi started his campaign for state comptroller, which he won, defeating Republican John Faso
, 50% to 46%.
As State Comptroller, Hevesi served as the state's chief fiscal officer and as head of the state Department of Audit and Control. In New York, the comptroller signs state checks, handles state bookkeeping, conducts audits of state and local finances, and issues economic forecasts. The comptroller also serves as the sole trustee of the state pension system, an important role in the investment community based on the value of New York State's investment portfolio.
On December 22, 2006, CNN
reported that "[N]ew York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi entered into a plea agreement which included his immediate resignation Friday to avoid a felony indictment by a New York State grand jury charging him with defrauding the government by having staffers drive his wife and assist her in with personal matters from 2003–2006. Hevesi pleaded guilty to Superior Court Filing of defrauding the government, a Class E felony, and will pay a $5,000 fine. Hevesi admitted the wrongdoing when allegations surfaced in November, and has repaid the state more than $200,000."
Hevesi was re-elected as New York State comptroller in 2006. Had he not resigned, he would have begun his second term of office on January 1, 2007.
A Hevesi favored firm, San Francisco-based Grigsby Brandford & Co, was involved in a bribery scandal in 1995. Hevesi seen as a champion of minority causes now found himself in a difficult position. He had no comment.
Bayside, New York, activist Joyce Shepard of the Citizens Action Committee for Change tried to highlight the issue of abused women. She contacted Hevesi's office to investigate. Hevesi issued a critical report on the Giuliani administration. On April 17, 1997, she was at New York City Hall with both Giuliani and Hevesi side by side. They promised more space for victims of domestic abuse. Despite all the promises nothing happened. She went undercover to expose the shortcomings of the shelter system. She criticized both Hevesi and Giuliani. After she was quoted by the Village Voice Hevesi reportedly phoned her and told her: "Don't you ever call my office about anything again!". The comptroller's office didn't deny the call took place. But a spokesman stated the office is open to anyone who thinks something is going on we should know about (Mission Unfullfilled, New York Newsday, Janison, D. July 20, 1997).
As state comptroller, Hevesi faced a conflict of interest allegation in relation to a private capital fund "Markstone". According to the New York Sun (Hevesi's Advice Stirs Questions On the Coast, Gerstein, J., May 11, 2006). The opening paragraph stated, The New York State comptroller, Alan Hevesi, encouraged California pension managers to invest in a private capital fund founded by a man whose wife has been a generous donor to his political campaigns. The story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times. Hevesi met with his California counterpart, comptroller Steve Westly and Elliot Broidy. Elliot Broidy of Markstone Capital Group. They met on May 19, 2003, in order to "pitch" the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS)
to invest in Markstone. Markstone was a fund that invested in Israeli companies. The Sun reported that in June 2003, Mr. Hevesi invested $200 million in Markstone. Mr. Broidy is a major Republican political contributor. Mr. Broidy did not directly contribute to Hevesi's political campaigns, but his wife did. His wife, Robin Rosenzweig, gave $80,000 since 2002. Before the May 2003 meeting she gave $30,000 and $50,000 afterwards. She also contributed to Andrew Hevesi's state assembly race. On October 7, 2010, Hevesi pleaded guilty to accepting gratuities for steering the investment funds to California venture capitalist Elliot Broidy. Hevese, accepted $75,000 in trips for himself and his family, $500,000 in campaign contributions and benefited from $380,000 given to a lobbyist.
At a commencement address he delivered at Queens College on June 1, 2006, Hevesi told his audience that Senator Charles Schumer
was so tough he would "put a bullet between the President's eyes if he could get away with it." Several hours after his remarks, Hevesi apologized for his comments, calling them "beyond dumb," "remarkably stupid," and "incredibly moronic."
While attending the New York State Association of Counties conference on September 28, 2006, Hevesi had one of his state employed press aides tape record the speech of his opponent, Christopher Callaghan.[dead link]
On October 2, 2006, allegations arose that Hevesi fired receptionist Alexander McHugh, who filed a charge of sexual harassment. Hevesi's office stated that the receptionist did not cooperate with their investigation into the matter and that "...found no evidence of sexual harassment." McHugh filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
.[dead link]
On September 26, 2006, Hevesi said he will pay the state more than $82,000 for having a public employee chauffeur his wife, after his Republican challenger, Christopher Callaghan, asked the Albany County
District Attorney
's office to investigate. Callaghan first phoned in the complaint to the State Comptroller's own State funds-abuse/fraud hotline. Hevesi had admitted the previous week that he had not reimbursed the state. Callaghan, in addition to the Republican party's nominee for the state governor race, John Faso
, also called for Hevesi's resignation. The Attorney General (who was seeking the Democratic party's state governor nomination), Eliot Spitzer
, withdrew his endorsement of Hevesi.
The controversy stimulated interest in the candidacies of Callaghan and minor party candidates Julia Willebrand
of the Green Party
and John Cain of the Libertarian Party
.[dead link] Hevesi claimed that the drivers were needed to provide security detail to his wife, though a bipartisan ethics panel concluded that the state police found no threat that justified such an arrangement. The panel also concluded that Hevesi had no intention of repaying the state for the driver services until Callaghan publicly filed a complaint.
On October 12, 2006, Albany County District Attorney David Soares
' office acknowledged that it was officially investigating actions by Hevesi regarding the public employee hired to chauffeur his wife.[dead link]
On October 23, 2006, the Ethics Commission deemed that Hevesi's actions involving the chauffeur may have violated state law.[dead link]
On November 3, 2006, Hevesi was ordered by the office of state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer
to pay the state $90,000 – in addition to the $83,000 he has already paid – in compensation for what has been deemed an improper use of a state employee.[dead link] Hevesi said was just a mistake and apologized in a new TV ad, in which he says, “I'm asking you to weigh my mistake against my 35 years of public service, I’m human...I'm a good comptroller who did a dumb thing"http://www.10nbc.com/news.asp?template=item&story_id=20653[dead link]
On December 12, 2006, Hevesi agreed to a deal that calls for the $90,000 in escrow money to be turned over to the state and for him to pay an additional $33,605 within 10 days, making his payback total $206,000. It was revealed that Hevesi had actually hired four, not the two employees initially thought for his wife's 'security detail' and said employees were running personal errands according to the report from the Attorney General Office.[dead link]
On December 13, 2006, a poll conducted between December 5 and December 11 by Quinnipiac showed that 45% of people in New York felt that Hevesi should resign and 43% felt he had paid his debt to the state. 1,144 registered voters in New York were polled with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent.
On December 14, 2006, the Albany County District Attorney acknowledged that he had a strong enough case to indict Hevesi (see beginning of page for judicial resolution).[dead link]
The scandal came to a close in February, 2007 when, after pleading guilty in December 2006 to a charge of defrauding the government, Hevesi was sentenced by Judge Stephen Herrick in Albany County Court to a $5,000 fine and barred permanently from elected office. As part of the plea deal, he was given no jail time, and received no probation.[dead link] Prior to sentencing, Hevesi paid the state more than $200,000 in restitution. Hevesi expressed remorse for his actions and told the judge: "I'm culpable, I'm responsible and I apologize."
Disgraced former New York state Comptroller Alan Hevesi spent his first full day in lockup in the prison infirmary, the New York Post reported Sunday.
State correction officials confirmed that Hevesi, who was sentenced to one to four years Friday for pocketing $1 million in improper benefits to approve pension-fund investments run by cronies, is currently incarcerated at the Mid-State Correctional Facility
. The 72-year-old politician, initially was sent to a medical unit at the Ulster Correctional Facility was issued a green uniform, a short haircut, and a new moniker: inmate 11-R-1334. Hevesi will be most likely isolated from the general population. He can be released, at the earliest, on February 13, 2012.
and other organizations then suing Swiss banks over Nazi-era bank balances
the WJC said was owing to the heirs of victims of the Holocaust, joined eventually by both then-Mayor of New York City Rudolph Giuliani and then-Governor of New York State George Pataki
. In his book on the subject, Norman Finkelstein dubs him "the godfather of Holocaust restitution sanctions."
He recruited the financial officers of many other states and municipalities in the US to similarly place the powers and responsibilities entrusted to them by their employers at the service of this cause, at one point calling them to a conference in his own city at which they discussed ways and means of coordinating their individual actions for maximum effect. Sanctions took the forms, variously, of withdrawing balances from (the US branches of) Swiss banks, disinvestment in Swiss banks and their various investment vehicles, disinvestment in Swiss companies, and in companies of other nationalities with operations or markets in Switzerland. Hevesi and a number of his accomplices further undertook to deny regulatory permissions to Swiss banks seeking to expand their activities in their jurisdictions.
This effort against Switzerland having seemed successful in securing the $1.25 billion (1999) settlement, Hevesi then brought the power of the ad hoc network he had constructed to bear in subsequent actions against Germany, Austria, and other countries, where its use also was deemed successful in raising the amounts of the settlements.
, pleaded guilty to charges that he accepted $800,000 from aides to Hevesi when Hevesi was comptroller of the state of New York. In 2005, Harding had secured employment at the Health Insurance Plan of New York for the incumbent State Assemblyman in District 28 (Queens), who then did not run for re-election so that Hevesi's son, Andrew
, could run for State Assemblyman. The younger Hevesi ran successfully and took his seat in the Assembly in 2005. Alan Hevesi thanked Harding for his assistance in his son's election.
2002 Race for state Comptroller
2006 Race for state Comptroller
1997 NYC Democratic Ticket
2001 NYC Liberal Party Ticket
2002 NYS Democratic Ticket
2006 NYS Democratic ticket
served as a New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
man from 1971 to 1993, as Comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
of the City of New York from 1994 to 2001, and as State Comptroller for the State of New York from 2003 to 2006. Hevesi is originally from Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New York, and is of Jewish faith.[dead link]
Hevesi was first elected State Comptroller in 2002 and won re-election in 2006. However, he resigned from office effective December 22, 2006, as part of a plea bargain with the Albany County
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
Court, based on his personal use of state employees to care for his ailing wife, in lieu of a grand jury indictment. In February 2007 Hevesi was sentenced to a $5000 fine and permanently banned from holding elective office again; he received no jail time and no probation. He later plead guilty to corruption charges surrounding a "pay to play" scheme regarding the New York State Pension Fund, and was sentenced to 1–4 years on April 15, 2011.
Background
Alan Hevesi is the son of the late Dr. Eugene Hevesi, a Hungarian-born leader in the American Jewish community who served as foreign affairs secretary for the American Jewish CommitteeAmerican Jewish Committee
The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world...
and as representative to the United Nations for several Jewish NGOs. His brother is Dennis Hevesi, a reporter for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. His grandfather was Simon Hevesi, Chief Rabbi of Budapest prior to World War II.
Alan Hevesi received his PhD in Public Law & Government from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1971. He earned a B.A. degree in Political Science from Queens College, CUNY. The title of his doctoral dissertation was Legislative Leadership in New York State. His dissertation has been archived by University Microfilms International
University Microfilms International
University Microfilms International or UMI, was founded in the 1930s by Eugene Power in Ann Arbor. By June 1938, Power worked in two rented rooms from a downtown Ann Arbor funeral parlor, specializing in microphotography to preserve library collections...
http://wwwlib.umi.com/dxweb/search and the document number is 7201325. http://wwwlib.umi.com/dxweb/details?doc_no=1916663
Hevesi and his wife Carol have been residents of Forest Hills, Queens
Forest Hills, Queens
Forest Hills is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States.-Neighborhood:The neighborhood is home to upper-middle class residents, of whom the wealthier residents often live in the neighborhood's Forest Hills Gardens area...
.
State Assembly
From 1971 to 1993, Hevesi represented QueensQueens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
in the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, rising to chair various committees and be considered a potential Assembly Speaker. Simultaneously (from 1967 to 1993), he was an associate professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at Queens College in Flushing, New York.
Hevesi claims credit for authoring 108 laws as an assemblyman. He is a close ally of New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
Sheldon Silver
Sheldon "Shelly" Silver is an American lawyer and Democratic politician from New York. He has held the office of Speaker of the New York State Assembly since 1994.- Personal life :...
.
NYC Comptroller
He first unsuccessfully sought the Democratic Nomination for City Comptroller in 1989; he was defeated by Brooklyn District Attorney and former Congresswoman Elizabeth HoltzmanElizabeth Holtzman
Elizabeth Holtzman is an American lawyer and former Democratic politician, pioneer woman officeholder, four term U.S. Representative , two term District Attorney of Kings County , and New York City Comptroller .Her role on the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate scandal drew national...
. In 1993, he came back to challenge Holtzman in the primary, following ethics accusations against Holtzman. Holtzman had taken a questionable loan from Fleet Bank, which Hevesi assailed her on during an NY1
NY1
NY1, New York One, is a 24-hour cable-news television channel focusing on the five boroughs of New York City. In addition to news and weather forecasts, the channel also features human-interest segments such as the "New Yorker of the Week" and the "Scholar Athlete of the Week", and specialty...
debate. Hevesi was also supported by Geraldine Ferraro
Geraldine Ferraro
Geraldine Anne Ferraro was an American attorney, a Democratic Party politician, and a member of the United States House of Representatives. She was the first female Vice Presidential candidate representing a major American political party....
, a former Congresswoman and Vice Presidential running mate of Walter Mondale
Walter Mondale
Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States , under President Jimmy Carter, and as a United States Senator for Minnesota...
. Ferraro, upset over Holtzman's 1992 Senate race attack, even went as far to encourage her candidacy to oppose Holtzman. (Hevesi and Ferraro would later become estranged.) The politically powerful health care union Local 1199, led by Jennifer Cunningham, gave Hevesi its endorsement. Hevesi defeated Holtzman to secure the Democratic nomination. Hevesi then defeated former Congressman Herman Badillo
Herman Badillo
Herman Badillo is a Bronx, New York politician who has been a borough president, United States Representative, and candidate for Mayor of New York City. He was the first Puerto Rican to be elected to these posts and be a mayoral candidate in the continental United States.-Early years:Badillo was...
, the Republican candidate in the general election.
He served two terms as New York City Comptroller from 1994 to 2002, when he was term-limited out of the office.
State Comptroller
In 2001, Hevesi sought the Democratic nomination for Mayor of New York, running on the platform of "Most Experienced, Best Qualified". He finished fourth, behind Public Advocate Mark J. GreenMark J. Green
Mark J. Green is an author, public interest lawyer and a Democratic politician who lives in New York City. He worked with Ralph Nader from 1970-1980, eventually as director of Public Citizen's Congress Watch, and is also the former president of Air America Radio .He was New York City Consumer...
, Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer
Fernando Ferrer
Fernando James "Freddy" Ferrer was the Borough President of The Bronx from 1987 to 2001, and was a candidate for Mayor of New York in 2001 and the Democratic Party nominee for Mayor in 2005.- Background :...
, and New York City Council Speaker Peter Vallone. Hevesi was the Liberal Party nominee for Mayor in the general election, but did not campaign in the race; instead, he endorsed Green for mayor in the general election. Following his defeat in the mayor's race, Hevesi started his campaign for state comptroller, which he won, defeating Republican John Faso
John Faso
John Faso was the Republican nominee for Governor of New York in 2006, and was defeated by Democratic nominee Eliot Spitzer in the largest defeat for a Republican gubernatorial candidate in the state's history. This followed his loss to Alan Hevesi four years earlier in his run for State Comptroller...
, 50% to 46%.
As State Comptroller, Hevesi served as the state's chief fiscal officer and as head of the state Department of Audit and Control. In New York, the comptroller signs state checks, handles state bookkeeping, conducts audits of state and local finances, and issues economic forecasts. The comptroller also serves as the sole trustee of the state pension system, an important role in the investment community based on the value of New York State's investment portfolio.
On December 22, 2006, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
reported that "[N]ew York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi entered into a plea agreement which included his immediate resignation Friday to avoid a felony indictment by a New York State grand jury charging him with defrauding the government by having staffers drive his wife and assist her in with personal matters from 2003–2006. Hevesi pleaded guilty to Superior Court Filing of defrauding the government, a Class E felony, and will pay a $5,000 fine. Hevesi admitted the wrongdoing when allegations surfaced in November, and has repaid the state more than $200,000."
Hevesi was re-elected as New York State comptroller in 2006. Had he not resigned, he would have begun his second term of office on January 1, 2007.
Controversies
The New York Post in an editorial questioned Hevesi's use of financial advisers as campaign contributors (Alan Hevesi's advisers, November 11, 1996). As City Comptroller he got to choose the city bond underwriters. According to a New York Post editorial, Hevesi hired a female minority owned firm, Philadelphia based P.G. Corbin & Co. Hevesi used discretionary funds in the amount of $1.58 million. Back in 1995, Hevesi's office suspended Corbin for failing to pay $5,900 in city corporate taxes.A Hevesi favored firm, San Francisco-based Grigsby Brandford & Co, was involved in a bribery scandal in 1995. Hevesi seen as a champion of minority causes now found himself in a difficult position. He had no comment.
Bayside, New York, activist Joyce Shepard of the Citizens Action Committee for Change tried to highlight the issue of abused women. She contacted Hevesi's office to investigate. Hevesi issued a critical report on the Giuliani administration. On April 17, 1997, she was at New York City Hall with both Giuliani and Hevesi side by side. They promised more space for victims of domestic abuse. Despite all the promises nothing happened. She went undercover to expose the shortcomings of the shelter system. She criticized both Hevesi and Giuliani. After she was quoted by the Village Voice Hevesi reportedly phoned her and told her: "Don't you ever call my office about anything again!". The comptroller's office didn't deny the call took place. But a spokesman stated the office is open to anyone who thinks something is going on we should know about (Mission Unfullfilled, New York Newsday, Janison, D. July 20, 1997).
As state comptroller, Hevesi faced a conflict of interest allegation in relation to a private capital fund "Markstone". According to the New York Sun (Hevesi's Advice Stirs Questions On the Coast, Gerstein, J., May 11, 2006). The opening paragraph stated, The New York State comptroller, Alan Hevesi, encouraged California pension managers to invest in a private capital fund founded by a man whose wife has been a generous donor to his political campaigns. The story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times. Hevesi met with his California counterpart, comptroller Steve Westly and Elliot Broidy. Elliot Broidy of Markstone Capital Group. They met on May 19, 2003, in order to "pitch" the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS)
CalPERS
The California Public Employees' Retirement System or CalPERS is an agency in the California executive branch that "manages pension and health benefits for more than 1.6 million California public employees, retirees, and their families"...
to invest in Markstone. Markstone was a fund that invested in Israeli companies. The Sun reported that in June 2003, Mr. Hevesi invested $200 million in Markstone. Mr. Broidy is a major Republican political contributor. Mr. Broidy did not directly contribute to Hevesi's political campaigns, but his wife did. His wife, Robin Rosenzweig, gave $80,000 since 2002. Before the May 2003 meeting she gave $30,000 and $50,000 afterwards. She also contributed to Andrew Hevesi's state assembly race. On October 7, 2010, Hevesi pleaded guilty to accepting gratuities for steering the investment funds to California venture capitalist Elliot Broidy. Hevese, accepted $75,000 in trips for himself and his family, $500,000 in campaign contributions and benefited from $380,000 given to a lobbyist.
At a commencement address he delivered at Queens College on June 1, 2006, Hevesi told his audience that Senator Charles Schumer
Charles Schumer
Charles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer is the senior United States Senator from New York and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected in 1998, he defeated three-term Republican incumbent Al D'Amato by a margin of 55%–44%. He was easily re-elected in 2004 by a margin of 71%–24% and in 2010 by a...
was so tough he would "put a bullet between the President's eyes if he could get away with it." Several hours after his remarks, Hevesi apologized for his comments, calling them "beyond dumb," "remarkably stupid," and "incredibly moronic."
While attending the New York State Association of Counties conference on September 28, 2006, Hevesi had one of his state employed press aides tape record the speech of his opponent, Christopher Callaghan.[dead link]
On October 2, 2006, allegations arose that Hevesi fired receptionist Alexander McHugh, who filed a charge of sexual harassment. Hevesi's office stated that the receptionist did not cooperate with their investigation into the matter and that "...found no evidence of sexual harassment." McHugh filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is an independent federal law enforcement agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, perceived intelligence,...
.[dead link]
Controversy regarding a chauffeur for Hevesi's wife
On September 21, 2006, Alan Hevesi admitted that he used Nicholas Acquafredda as a state employee to drive and aid his ailing wife. In 2003, Hevesi claims that the State Ethics Commission decided that he would pay back the entire cost of driving around his wife unless it is for specific safety purposes. A spokesperson from the State Ethics Commission denies such a decision was made.On September 26, 2006, Hevesi said he will pay the state more than $82,000 for having a public employee chauffeur his wife, after his Republican challenger, Christopher Callaghan, asked the Albany County
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
's office to investigate. Callaghan first phoned in the complaint to the State Comptroller's own State funds-abuse/fraud hotline. Hevesi had admitted the previous week that he had not reimbursed the state. Callaghan, in addition to the Republican party's nominee for the state governor race, John Faso
John Faso
John Faso was the Republican nominee for Governor of New York in 2006, and was defeated by Democratic nominee Eliot Spitzer in the largest defeat for a Republican gubernatorial candidate in the state's history. This followed his loss to Alan Hevesi four years earlier in his run for State Comptroller...
, also called for Hevesi's resignation. The Attorney General (who was seeking the Democratic party's state governor nomination), Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
, withdrew his endorsement of Hevesi.
The controversy stimulated interest in the candidacies of Callaghan and minor party candidates Julia Willebrand
Julia Willebrand
Julia Willebrand is an environmental, peace and education activist and was the Green Party nominee for the office of Comptroller of the State of New York in the 2006 New York state elections.- Biography :...
of the Green Party
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
and John Cain of the Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
.[dead link] Hevesi claimed that the drivers were needed to provide security detail to his wife, though a bipartisan ethics panel concluded that the state police found no threat that justified such an arrangement. The panel also concluded that Hevesi had no intention of repaying the state for the driver services until Callaghan publicly filed a complaint.
On October 12, 2006, Albany County District Attorney David Soares
David Soares
P. David Soares is the current Albany County District Attorney. He is a Democrat.- Personal life :Soares was the youngest of the six children of Lucas and Lidia Soares. When he was six years old his family moved to Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He received a Bachelor's Degree in communications from...
' office acknowledged that it was officially investigating actions by Hevesi regarding the public employee hired to chauffeur his wife.[dead link]
On October 23, 2006, the Ethics Commission deemed that Hevesi's actions involving the chauffeur may have violated state law.[dead link]
On November 3, 2006, Hevesi was ordered by the office of state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
to pay the state $90,000 – in addition to the $83,000 he has already paid – in compensation for what has been deemed an improper use of a state employee.[dead link] Hevesi said was just a mistake and apologized in a new TV ad, in which he says, “I'm asking you to weigh my mistake against my 35 years of public service, I’m human...I'm a good comptroller who did a dumb thing"http://www.10nbc.com/news.asp?template=item&story_id=20653[dead link]
On December 12, 2006, Hevesi agreed to a deal that calls for the $90,000 in escrow money to be turned over to the state and for him to pay an additional $33,605 within 10 days, making his payback total $206,000. It was revealed that Hevesi had actually hired four, not the two employees initially thought for his wife's 'security detail' and said employees were running personal errands according to the report from the Attorney General Office.[dead link]
On December 13, 2006, a poll conducted between December 5 and December 11 by Quinnipiac showed that 45% of people in New York felt that Hevesi should resign and 43% felt he had paid his debt to the state. 1,144 registered voters in New York were polled with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent.
On December 14, 2006, the Albany County District Attorney acknowledged that he had a strong enough case to indict Hevesi (see beginning of page for judicial resolution).[dead link]
The scandal came to a close in February, 2007 when, after pleading guilty in December 2006 to a charge of defrauding the government, Hevesi was sentenced by Judge Stephen Herrick in Albany County Court to a $5,000 fine and barred permanently from elected office. As part of the plea deal, he was given no jail time, and received no probation.[dead link] Prior to sentencing, Hevesi paid the state more than $200,000 in restitution. Hevesi expressed remorse for his actions and told the judge: "I'm culpable, I'm responsible and I apologize."
Felony Conviction and Sentence
Alan Hevesi, having plead guilty on corruption was sentenced to 1–4 years on April 15, 2011.Disgraced former New York state Comptroller Alan Hevesi spent his first full day in lockup in the prison infirmary, the New York Post reported Sunday.
State correction officials confirmed that Hevesi, who was sentenced to one to four years Friday for pocketing $1 million in improper benefits to approve pension-fund investments run by cronies, is currently incarcerated at the Mid-State Correctional Facility
Mid-State Correctional Facility
Mid-State Correctional Facility is located between the cities of Rome and Utica in New York State.Before Mid-State was a prison, it was a hospital for both the mentally ill and mentally handicapped. There was a so called “25-year building spree” in the prison system, when the number of prisoners...
. The 72-year-old politician, initially was sent to a medical unit at the Ulster Correctional Facility was issued a green uniform, a short haircut, and a new moniker: inmate 11-R-1334. Hevesi will be most likely isolated from the general population. He can be released, at the earliest, on February 13, 2012.
Holocaust restitution sanctions by states and municipalities
By December 1997, Hevesi as Comptroller of the City of New York enlisted the weight and soundness of his City's finances in the cause of forcing Swiss banks to meet the demands of the World Jewish CongressWorld Jewish Congress
The World Jewish Congress was founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in August 1936 as an international federation of Jewish communities and organizations...
and other organizations then suing Swiss banks over Nazi-era bank balances
World Jewish Congress lawsuit against Swiss banks
The World Jewish Congress lawsuit against Swiss banks was launched to retrieve deposits made by victims of Nazi persecution during and prior to World War II.-Negotiations:...
the WJC said was owing to the heirs of victims of the Holocaust, joined eventually by both then-Mayor of New York City Rudolph Giuliani and then-Governor of New York State George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
. In his book on the subject, Norman Finkelstein dubs him "the godfather of Holocaust restitution sanctions."
He recruited the financial officers of many other states and municipalities in the US to similarly place the powers and responsibilities entrusted to them by their employers at the service of this cause, at one point calling them to a conference in his own city at which they discussed ways and means of coordinating their individual actions for maximum effect. Sanctions took the forms, variously, of withdrawing balances from (the US branches of) Swiss banks, disinvestment in Swiss banks and their various investment vehicles, disinvestment in Swiss companies, and in companies of other nationalities with operations or markets in Switzerland. Hevesi and a number of his accomplices further undertook to deny regulatory permissions to Swiss banks seeking to expand their activities in their jurisdictions.
This effort against Switzerland having seemed successful in securing the $1.25 billion (1999) settlement, Hevesi then brought the power of the ad hoc network he had constructed to bear in subsequent actions against Germany, Austria, and other countries, where its use also was deemed successful in raising the amounts of the settlements.
Payoffs to Raymond Harding for political favors
On October 6, 2009, Raymond Harding, chairman of the Liberal Party of New YorkLiberal Party of New York
The Liberal Party of New York is a minor American political party that has been active only in the state of New York. Its platform supports a standard set of social liberal policies: it supports right to abortion, increased spending on education, and universal health care.As of 2007, the Liberal...
, pleaded guilty to charges that he accepted $800,000 from aides to Hevesi when Hevesi was comptroller of the state of New York. In 2005, Harding had secured employment at the Health Insurance Plan of New York for the incumbent State Assemblyman in District 28 (Queens), who then did not run for re-election so that Hevesi's son, Andrew
Andrew Hevesi
Andrew D. Hevesi is a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly representing the 28th Assembly District, which includes Forest Hills and Middle Village.-Early life and family:...
, could run for State Assemblyman. The younger Hevesi ran successfully and took his seat in the Assembly in 2005. Alan Hevesi thanked Harding for his assistance in his son's election.
Electoral history
2002 Democratic Primary for state Comptroller- Alan Hevesi, 63%
- William Mulrow, 37%
2002 Race for state Comptroller
- Alan Hevesi (D), 50%
- John FasoJohn FasoJohn Faso was the Republican nominee for Governor of New York in 2006, and was defeated by Democratic nominee Eliot Spitzer in the largest defeat for a Republican gubernatorial candidate in the state's history. This followed his loss to Alan Hevesi four years earlier in his run for State Comptroller...
(R), 46%
2006 Race for state Comptroller
- Alan Hevesi (D), 56.37%
- Christopher Callaghan (R), 39.45%
- Julia WillebrandJulia WillebrandJulia Willebrand is an environmental, peace and education activist and was the Green Party nominee for the office of Comptroller of the State of New York in the 2006 New York state elections.- Biography :...
(Green), 2.78% - John Cain (LBT), 0.99%
- Willie Cotton (SWP), 0.40%
Election tickets on which Hevesi has appeared
1993 NYC Democratic Ticket- Mayor: David DinkinsDavid DinkinsDavid Norman Dinkins is a former politician from New York City. He was the Mayor of New York City from 1990 through 1993; he was the first and is, to date, the only African American to hold that office.-Early life:...
- Public Advocate: Mark J. GreenMark J. GreenMark J. Green is an author, public interest lawyer and a Democratic politician who lives in New York City. He worked with Ralph Nader from 1970-1980, eventually as director of Public Citizen's Congress Watch, and is also the former president of Air America Radio .He was New York City Consumer...
- Comptroller: Alan Hevesi
1997 NYC Democratic Ticket
- Mayor: Ruth MessingerRuth MessingerRuth Wyler Messinger is a former political leader in New York City and a member of the Democratic Party as well as the Democratic Socialists of America. She was the Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York City in 1997, losing to incumbent mayor Rudy Giuliani. She is married to Andrew Lachman, her...
- Public Advocate: Mark J. Green
- Comptroller: Alan Hevesi
2001 NYC Liberal Party Ticket
- Mayor: Alan Hevesi
- Public Advocate: Scott StringerScott StringerScott M. Stringer is a New York Democratic politician and currently the 26th Borough President of Manhattan.-Life and career:...
- Comptroller: Herbert BermanHerbert BermanHerbert Berman is a politician in New York. He served as a City Councilman from Brooklyn and was the Chairman of the Council Finance Committee for several years. Because of term limits prohibiting Berman from seeking reelection in 2001 to the Council, he sought the Democratic nomination for New...
2002 NYS Democratic Ticket
- Governor: Carl McCallCarl McCallHerman Carl McCall is a former Comptroller of New York State and was the Democratic candidate for state governor in 2002. He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for numerous corporations. He received a B.A. degree from Dartmouth...
- Lieutenant Governor: Dennis Mehiel
- Comptroller: Alan Hevesi
- Attorney General: Eliot SpitzerEliot SpitzerEliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
2006 NYS Democratic ticket
- Governor: Eliot SpitzerEliot SpitzerEliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
- Lieutenant Governor: David PatersonDavid PatersonDavid Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
- Comptroller: Alan Hevesi
- Attorney General: Andrew CuomoAndrew CuomoAndrew Mark Cuomo is the 56th and current Governor of New York, having assumed office on January 1, 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 64th New York State Attorney General, and was the 11th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development...
- U.S. Senate: Hillary Rodham ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonHillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...