Speaking of Albany pols with a penchant for taking good care of themselves, there comes news from a Westchester County court, where the corruption trial against a Yonkers politician unearthed some pregnant details regarding state Sen. Tom Libous (R-Binghamton).
Disbarred lawyer Anthony Mangone testified last week that Deputy Majority Leader Libous pushed for a $150,000-a-year gig for his son at Mangone’s firm.
In return, according to testimony, Libous promised he would steer heaps of government business to Mangone’s practice — that he “was going to get [Mangone] so much work you would need to add a wing to your firm.”
Matthew Libous came on board with just a $50,000 salary, but the senator demanded that his son get a $50,000 raise . . .
And then another $50,000 raise . . .
And a company credit card . . .
And a company car — a Range Rover.
Nice work, if Dad can get it for you.
Nice ride, too.
But the senator’s son was so expensive and so “incompetent” — he missed court dates, according to Mangone — that the firm soon fired him. “We couldn’t afford him anymore,” Mangone testified.
Now, obviously, Mangone isn’t a man to be taken at his word.
And neither Libous nor his son has been charged with any crime related to the corruption case now being being tried against former Yonkers Councilwoman Sandy Annabi.
Nor is father or son named in the indictment against her.
But neither is making a peep now, either.
“It’s testimony in a trial that’s going before a jury, and I’m unable to comment on someone’s testimony before a jury makes a decision,” Sen. Libous said.
Not much of a denial.
Nor, we suspect, is Libous likely to have much to say after a verdict.
The disbarred Mangone has plenty to account for himself — he faces decades in prison related to Annabi’s bribery case — but it certainly bears keeping a watchful eye on Clan Libous.