Politics on the Hudson

   Former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno’s federal corruption trial is expected to wrap up today, and it will be up to the jury to decide his fate. Prosecutors charged he received more than $3 million from businesses in exchange for his political influence at the state Capitol between 1993 and 2006.

   Bruno, a Republican from Brunswick, Rensselaer County, has maintained his innocence. He has noted that the job of lawmaker is part time and legislators are allowed to have outside income.

   The prosecution has argued that Bruno defrauded the state and its residents by entering into and trying to enter into financial agreements with people or companies that had or were pursuing business with the Legislature or state agencies.

   The charges were the result of a three-year investigation into Bruno, who resigned from the Senate last year.