Posted by Brooklyn Daily Eagle on 16:37:18 10/24/05
Norman Won’t Talk
Turns Down DA Offer in Judge Probe
By Charles Sweeney
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
ADAMS STREET-- It looks like the Brooklyn DA’s judicial corruption probe won’t get any help from former assemblyman Clarence Norman, this according to a statement released by Norman’s lawyer Edward Rappaport yesterday.
“I informed the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office that Clarence Norman will not be going in to meet with the office today,” Rappaport said in a written statement. Prosecutors had set yesterday as the deadline for Norman’s cooperation in the investigation, according to law enforcement sources.
Miffed at recent leaks to the press concerning the probe, Rappaport denied his client’s involvement in any judicial scandal. “While the DA apparently prefers to continue to leak sensational and unverified rumors to the press, the fact is that Clarence Norman has never received any monies for any reason from judicial candidates or sitting judges and therefore has no information to share.”
Hynes’ press spokesman Jerry Schmetterer would not comment on the leak allegations, saying only “we’re prepared to go to trial on November 7th.”
In that trial, Norman faces grand larceny charges in connection with a scheme in which prosecutors charge he ‘double-dipped’ the state for travel expenses.
Norman and Democratic Party chair Jeffery Feldman have also been indicted on allegations the two demanded payments, or ‘contributions,’ from judicial candidates for party endorsements-- payments the DA alleges amounted to extortion, larceny and coercion.
Norman had been extended an offer by DA Charles Hynes that could have gone a long way toward resolving the outstanding cases against the disgraced former party leader.
Instead, Rappaport said, “We continue to proceed in preparing an appeal of Mr. Norman’s conviction, and preparing for Mr. Norman’s next trial.”
A deal could also have included a sentence recommendation for Norman’s recent conviction on election law violations, for which he faces up to eight years in prison, if Norman were to receive consecutive sentences for the felony convictions.
Norman’s sentencing before Supreme Court Justice Martin Marcus for the election law violations is scheduled for November 29th.
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