Politics on the Hudson

  The AG’s office just presented Comptroller Alan Hevesi with a bill for his using a state employee to chauffeur his wife $206,293.

   That’s more than the $82,689 Hevesi previously paid and the $90,000 he put in escrow in anticipation of the report.

  A few other notable items in the settlement of the bill:

  1. “Four state employees spent time on assignment to the Comptroller’s wife, Carol Hevesi, a private citizen.’‘

 2. Nicholas Aquafredda, the main driver, was assigned to Mrs. Hevesi virtually full time by spring 2005. The AG’s office inspected computer records, e-mails, parking garage swipe cards and Mrs. Hevesi’s appointment book to make this determination.  “During this time, Acquafredda rarely reported to work at the Comptroller’s Office.’‘

 3. Hevesi’s office did not track Aquafredda’s time as a chauffeur—which supports the Ethics Commission’s earlier opinion that Hevesi gave no indication that he intended to reimburse the state.

  Without comment, Hevesi agreed to pay the bill.