Politics on the Hudson

Sen. John Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, Orange County, was the first senator to call for Bruno to step down as majority leader in 2006 after Bruno revealed he was being investigated by the FBI, angering his GOP colleagues.

But Bonacic said “I feel neither vindication nor satisfaction” in the guilty verdict against Bruno.

“I said in 2006, and believe today, that Senator Bruno was not qualified to lead our Senate Republican conference given that he was the subject of an FBI investigation,” Bonacic said in a statement.

“Today’s conviction affirms that position as a matter of law. It is a clarion call for stronger, non-partisan ethics laws and enforcement.”

“Senator Bruno’s case will undoubtedly be considered by higher courts. Regardless of any outcome, public officials owe it to their constituents to act under a higher standard. Merely avoiding indictment is not an acceptable standard for holding public office. With this conviction, more people who hold public office, should finally understand that.”

“I also want to express my congratulations to U.S. Attorney Elizabeth I. Coombe in prosecuting this case. Ms. Coombe is originally from my district, and the daughter of my friend, former Assemblyman Dick Coombe. Her hard work has shown that nobody is above the law.”