Politics on the Hudson

The Village Voice’s Wayne Barrett says the potential announcement today that former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno may be indicted today could put a major damper on Governor Paterson’s announcement of Kirsten Gillibrand as the Senate pick.

He writes:

“Federal prosecutors, according to numerous news accounts, are poised to indict former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno and no one knows if that possible indictment will contain allegations about a real estate deal that involved Bruno and Gillibrand’s father, Albany lobbyist and power broker Doug Rutnik.

“What we do know is that prosecutors subpoenaed all the records of this complex transaction which, at the very least, raise stark ethical questions about Rutnik’s awkward business relationship with a powerful public official he lobbied. No one familiar with Gillibrand’s rapid political ascent would question the pivotal role that Rutnik has played in it, milking his wide-ranging political connections for his daughter.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Albany has not indicated yet whether it’s making an announcement today, despite repeated calls to their office this morning.