CRAIN's INSIDER
On Wednesday afternoon, a federal judge released the names of nine individuals—including seven lawmakers—who were secretly recorded by former Queens state Sen. Shirley Huntley, who cooperated with authorities and wore a wire after she pleaded guilty to fraud.
The list of names has been highly anticipated in local political circles over the past 24-hours, especially because on Tuesday the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, Loretta Lynch, revealed in court papers that eight of those individuals were under investigation by her office. The list includes Ms. Huntley's former fellow Senate Democratic colleagues, who held a brief majority in the body from 2009 to 2011, before corruption scandals helped upend this hold on power.
Brooklyn state Sen. John Sampson
Brooklyn state Sen. Eric Adams
Queens state Sen: Jose Peralta
Queens state Sen. Malcolm Smith
Melvin Lowe
Queens Councilman Ruben Wills
Curtis Taylor, former press adviser to Mr. Smith; Brooklyn state Sen. Velmanette Montgomery
Bronx state Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson
None other than Mr. Sampson and Mr. Smith have been accused of any wrongdoing.