Madoff's Attorney New Ethics Watchdog

[warrprayer]

(cross posted from G.D.)

Madoff's Attorney Appointed as Head of Ethics Panel
Ex-Madoff attorney named chair of N.Y. ethics panel
4/22/2013


By Joseph Ax

NEW YORK (Reuters) -" Daniel Horwitz, a partner at the boutique law firm Lankler Carragher & Horwitz in Manhattan and one of Bernard Madoff's defense lawyers, was appointed chairman of the state's political ethics watchdog on Monday by Governor Andrew Cuomo."

"The commission, known as JCOPE, was created in 2011 as part of a sweeping ethics-reform package signed into law by Cuomo. It regulates government ethics and lobbying for state legislators, legislative and executive branch employees, and political candidates, as well as lobbyists and certain party officials."

"Horwitz donated $4,250 in campaign funds to Cuomo from 2006 to 2010, according to state records."

Is it just me, or is it all one big good ol' boys club?

[Summer Hathaway]

1. Second verse, same as the first.

What constitutes this appointment as being indicative of "one big good ol' boys club"?

Madoff hired the best lawyer available. That does not make that lawyer guilty of any wrongdoing, or even mildly scandalous. Defense attorneys regularly represent criminals, because that's - uh - their JOB.

The fact of the $4,250 in contributions (over a six-year period, no less) is a laughable addition to the story. Given the annual income of high-profile lawyers, that's chump change - and I doubt that an ambitious politician like Cuomo could be 'bought', or even influenced, by such a paltry amount.

Reading DU of late is almost like listening to FOX News ...