By BILL MAHONEY 09/23/16

ALBANY — While announcing sweeping criminal charges against individuals close to Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday morning, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara referred to one of them, Todd Howe, as a “powerful and connected lobbyist with close ties to the governor’s office.”

Based on the details provided in Bharara’s complaints, to which Howe has pled guilty, it’s clear that Howe was connected and had close ties to the governor’s office. But while Howe meets the dictionary definition of a lobbyist — for the entirety of Cuomo’s tenure, he’s partially made his living off influencing New York’s government — he hasn’t been registered for most of this time.

Click on the link below to read the rest of Bill Mahoney’s story:

http://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2016/09/bharara-complaint-details-activities-of-unregistered-influence-peddler-105750

Michael Benjamin
@SquarePegDem