Wednesday, February 18, 2015

AG won't investigate Abelove in Crist case; majority opens minority's mail and finds out first


ABELOVE
     In a Feb. 6 letter to Peter Grimm, the minority leader of the Rensselaer County Legislature, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office said it would not pursue an investigation into District Attorney Joel Abelove’s decision to drop a case against Rich Crist, the spokesman for the Republicans on the Rensselaer County Legislature.
     “The Public Integrity Unit has carefully reviewed your correspondence and has determined that your complaint does not warrant action at this time,” according to the letter signed by an official in the AG’s office. The signature is not legible. (see the letter below.)
The letter was postmarked Feb. 13, but Grimm and his five colleagues in the minority didn’t receive the letter until Feb. 18. Instead of going directly to that office, it ended up in the majority office and someone there opened and read the letter before delivering it to the proper recipients on the other side of the building. The letter came from the AG’s New York City office and it is unclear when it was delivered to the county building. (See the envelop below)
CRIST

     “What the majority did is inappropriate and possibly illegal,” said Legislator Cindy Doran, D-Troy. “It’s another example of their complete disregard for our office and the voters of Troy.”

     All six Democrats on the Legislature are from Troy.

     Crist was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment stemming from a family dispute he had with his teenage son in July, 2014. A motion to dismiss the charges was not challenged by Abelove’s office. While the disposition may be correct, the controversy came about because Crist worked on Abelove’s DA campaign last year.

     Meanwhile, the six Democrats on the Legislature, in a Feb. 17 memo, called for Abelove to fulfill his duties as DA and investigate Chairman of the Legislature Martin Reid for inappropriately collecting more than $15,000 in unemployment benefits or for the DA to step aside and let a special prosecutor take the case.
REID
 
   “In addition, you should agree that your office has a conflict of interest in proceeding with this case due to the fact that you have employed a relative of Mr. Reid as an assistant district attorney and the political difficulties you may foresee I prosecuting someone who has oversight of your budget,” according to the memo sent by the six democrats.

       An administrative law judge determined Reid willfully and intentionally defrauded the Department of Labor.

     Last week, the Democrats were prepared to call for Reid’s resignation however the chairman cut the meeting short before giving the elected representatives an opportunity to speak.

       Also, Reid, a Republican, did repay the $15,335 he improperly collected, according to an Aug. 4, 2014 receipt from the state Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance Division. I’m not authorized the release the receipt but there was some confusion on whether or not Reid paid back what he owed. The first TU article stated that the money would be taken from any future unemployment benefits Reid receives in the future.
DORAN

       Reid was let go from his state School Board’s Association position and began collecting the maximum unemployment benefit of $405 a week. He failed to tell the Department of Labor, however, that he was making $30,000 a year as chairman. An administrative law judge determined Reid willfully and intentionally committed fraud.
  
     According to the Times Union, the matter was referred to the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office. Abelove said he did not receive any such referral and surmised that it must have come while Acting DA Arthur Glass had the helm prior to Abelove’s being sworn in on Jan. 1.
Reid has remained silent on the issue but there are no public plans for him to step down.

      Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin, R-Melrose, an outspoken critic of corruption in state government, recently let Reid go from his staff.

  




   



51 comments:

  1. Ahh, the stench of Rensselaer County pokitics at it's best! When are the citizens going to wake up and rise up against this arrogant, crooked, one party system? This county is a joke.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations to Steve McLaughlin. He did the right thing.
    Now if you only had a DA to do the right thing and take Galuski and Reid to a grand jury, it would be a start.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The arrogance is appalling, but expected. Apparently McLaughlin knows that Reid is toxic; when will Abelove wise up? Will Reid file for unemployment after losing the no show job in McLauglin's office? (Really, what does a part-time legislative assistant based in Troy do but collect a paycheck?)

    ReplyDelete
  4. And the Reid/Crist office opens the confidential letter from the AG. Come on !!! are there any standards for these Republicans ? The envelope is clearly intended for the minority office. Once again, they don't care about their actions. After all, they know they have the DA in their pocket.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Postal inspectors should be notified and complaint filed.

      Delete
  5. It's too bad the AG decidided not to investigate. They would have found out that Abelove lied about a couple of things. 1. He ordered the ADA to dismiss the case and 2. He asked the prior administration to "get rid of" the file.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Majority opens Minority's mail? Rensselaer County Communism at its finest!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nice, that's a federal offense. Keep it up, Crist! The ship is sinking and you and your band of idiots keep punching holes in the hull.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seriously dunne?

      Delete
    2. An all harry can worry about is the donut shop tenants and paying his taxes

      Delete
    3. Will the new windows in Harrys house save him?
      That is the Question !~~!

      Delete
    4. The question is: Why are you driving by Harry's house? Got friends in the hood? Business? Or just stalking people again. Nut bag!

      Delete
  8. Where are those postal inspectors when you need them? Tampering with the mail is at last look, a Federal offense!

    ReplyDelete
  9. The GOP in this County is unreal. Talk about believing they are entitled. When Reid was let go from McLaughlin's office - did he file for unemployment again? And was that income listed the first time? More theft. Arrest him.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Only February and we are well into the silly season, heard Mark McGrath is steaming mad cause the GOP is planning to run Kim McPherson in council district 2 and not McGrath. Don't know what the hell is going on with the GOP but they're starting to make sense.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly right. Maybe we as a party can move forward without this has been. He's a dem anyway. Good riddance.

      Delete
    2. Kim McPherson has the charisma of a soil sample. What are you people smoking?

      Delete
    3. If Mark McGrath was 1/4 The Man John McPherson was in North Central
      I would vote for him.
      Kim McPherson is forthright and honest as it comes.

      Delete
    4. So the GOP casts out Mark McGrath? Is this the same GOP being described in the last 12 posts as corrupt? If so he's my guy.

      Delete
    5. What are you smoking. At least she has the balls to stand up for the people.

      Delete
    6. Kiss mcpheersons chances away with a endorsement from uncle lugg nutt cox. Can't even keep a Twitter account open. Vito wins again

      Delete
    7. Ah, the rabid dem loyalists attempting to pit Mark and Mrs. McPherson against one another. You will likely see both on the same ticket with both being elected.

      Delete
    8. Robert the retard is all for Kimmy that's enough for me not to vote for her.

      Delete
    9. How is she qualified. She's not even liked on her own block.

      Delete
  11. Just read the TU article about Lou wanting the football when the games on the line. With his history of fumbling things I feel Herman Edwards will soon be looking for a house in Troy.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Same old same old, and when it's time for re-election season, the bleating sheep will put these thugs right back in. Remember when the "letchislature" gave themselves big raises and everybody was all up in arms over it? By the time election season rolled around, all had been forgiven and forgotten and the only ones not re-elected were the bloc from East and North Greenbush who had stood up against it. It's disgusting. The villagers need pitchforks, torches, and ENLIGHTENMENT........Raoul Duke

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think I just saw Abe walking on the Collar City Bridge. Hmmm, the river is frozen Abe! Jump anyway

    ReplyDelete
  14. Are you f in kidding me? Whoever made that decision is a complete a-hole. Mark's a sure winner. Idiots - just another reason why the D's rule the roost. Assholes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Way too many assholes here.

      Delete
    2. Sadly Mark has shown himself after eight years on the council to have little understanding of how the city operates. Coupled with his nepotism while he was elected, people put him in the same category as Carmella........losers who can't seem to understand you had your day......move on!

      Delete
    3. I agree, when Mark lost to Anastasia he should've just gone away quietly.

      Delete
    4. Mark has his first endorsement for his return to being a Troy councilman again it's from Pat McGrath. Pat is looking to bring some pride back to the McGrath name.

      Delete
    5. 4:53 Mark never lost to Anastasia, he termed out. How that woman got elected should be investigated.

      Delete
    6. Obviously you know nothing about the mcGraths....... They are not even related.

      Delete
  15. Somebody check if Abe even went to Law School. I don't believe he did.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Abelove went to law scholl. He avoided all classes involving ethics.

      Delete
  16. Thank God it wasn't an absentee ballot

    ReplyDelete
  17. Jesus Mirimba! It just goes further down the rabbit hole! Are the people of this county ever going to wake up and smell the bill of goods that's being foisted on them?!?!? This is unreal, anyplace else and there'd be formal inquiries, indictments and...convictions, but, not here in Dodge City without horse BUT with multiple horses asses. Wake up people, clean this mess up, dump these creeps before it's too late!.....Augustus Bedford Forrest

    ReplyDelete
  18. Did Reid disclose the income he was earning working for McLoughlin's office and the income he was receiving from the county legislature when he filed for unemployment ? He obviously endorsed pay checks and got W 2 forms. Wonder if he even filed it on his federal income tax return. That would be worth seeing.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Would the last official on Rensselaer County with integrity please turn out the lights?
    ......Felix Leiter

    ReplyDelete
  20. Pat next time you are on Jim Franco radio show explain why you Sheriff Mahar cost this county millions of dollors due to the law suits that you and him are responsible for. You were in charge when Jack spent most of the past four years in Carolina.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Welp, once again the voters of Rensselaer County elected a corrupt tool. Should be a fun 4 years.

    ReplyDelete
  22. After setting the odds on who will win this years World Series I now have updated info on Novembers mayors race in Troy. Carmelo Mantello 2-1 The Democratic ticket appears a little muddied Lou Rosamelia 9-5 The field 4-1. Signed Vinny Vegas.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I hope the minority members are ready to confront the hacks that opened their mail.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mail delivered to the wrong office in the county office building is easily explained. The mail room folks serve at the pleasure of the Republicans. If told to deliver Minority office mail to the Majority office, they will comply. Don't ever think Crist is above opening mail intended for his opposition.

      Delete
  24. Is it just me or does Doran look just like Johnny winter?

    ReplyDelete
  25. Which one of Joel's minions brought a handgun to Troy City Court? Caused quite the stir up!

    ReplyDelete
  26. So Pat how was court. Heard that they caught you in a couple of lies. What are you going to say when it comes out. Who is going to pay for the millions that has to be paid out.

    ReplyDelete