ALBANY – Designer Marc Jacobs refused to fully cooperate with state investigators looking into a bribery scandal at the famed Lexington Avenue Armory, a law-enforcement source told The Post.
State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s office is considering a criminal charge against Marc Jacobs International, which has a Fashion Week show at the armory today, for paying some $4,000 in bribes to a now-indicted state official to secure space for its lavish shows.
“Jacobs dragged its feet on this investigation, and that caused a long delay in handling the case,” the clearly miffed law-enforcement official said.
When initially contacted months ago about bribes allegedly paid by the company to then-armory Superintendent James Jackson, Jacobs officials vowed to be fully cooperative, but were not, the source complained.
“I’d say they were about 72 percent cooperative, but the problem for us was what about the other 28 percent.” the source said.
“They were slow in coming forward to fully explain what had occurred, and one senior company employee in particular was not made available to speak with investigators for several months, and that didn’t help,” the official said.
When the senior company employee finally did talk, “he provided little information of relevance,” the source said.
In a Fashion Week bombshell, Cuomo and state Inspector General Kristine Hamann announced on Wednesday the indictment of Jackson, who resigned as Lexington Avenue Armory superintendent two days after his October arrest.
Jackson was accused of shaking down Marc Jacobs International and at least nine other companies over a 10-year span for more than $30,000.
Jackson, who pleaded not guilty, is charged with providing armory space for events in return for illegal cash payoffs, home gym equipment, computers and other items.
Jackson was caught red-handed on camera taking bribes – including $1,500 from an undercover agent, officials said.
Whether investigators move forward with a case against Marc Jacobs International could depend on whether they find that the company was a victim of extortion or that it willingly offered the bribe to the state official in exchange for space.
A spokeswoman for Marc Jacobs International had no comment yesterday.
But on Wednesday, after the case against Jackson was announced, the spokeswoman issued a statement saying the company is aware of the case and has been “cooperating fully.”
Said to be upset by the claim, a Cuomo spokesman soon after put out a short retort saying, “Marc Jacobs International is the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation.”
Marc Jacobs fashion shows are among the hottest tickets and often attended by such celebs as Fergie, Courtney Love and Ashton Kutcher.