{"id":2494,"date":"2024-01-24T16:07:14","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T21:07:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/?p=2494"},"modified":"2024-01-24T16:07:16","modified_gmt":"2024-01-24T21:07:16","slug":"accused-of-corruption-what-is-the-story-behind-the-scandal-surrounding-the-politician-malcolm-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/eternal\/accused-of-corruption-what-is-the-story-behind-the-scandal-surrounding-the-politician-malcolm-smith","title":{"rendered":"Accused of corruption: what is the story behind the scandal surrounding the politician Malcolm Smith?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The American politician from Queens, Malcolm Smith, became known for being the first African American to hold several administrative posts in the government agencies of the state of New York. He worked hard for the welfare of the community and championed state-wide economic growth, equal opportunities and government reform. However, a political scandal damaged Smith&#8217;s reputation irreparably and shattered his authority and trust among the people. In 2013, being a Democrat, the senator decided to run for mayor from Republicans. Instead of the coveted power, he went to jail for 7 years. The politician was convicted of public corruption. Read more at <a href=\"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/uk\/\">queensyes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_76 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a03f6519065e\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a03f6519065e\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/eternal\/accused-of-corruption-what-is-the-story-behind-the-scandal-surrounding-the-politician-malcolm-smith\/#Education_and_early_career\" >Education and early career<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/eternal\/accused-of-corruption-what-is-the-story-behind-the-scandal-surrounding-the-politician-malcolm-smith\/#Political_career\" >Political career<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/eternal\/accused-of-corruption-what-is-the-story-behind-the-scandal-surrounding-the-politician-malcolm-smith\/#Unsuccessful_election\" >Unsuccessful election<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/eternal\/accused-of-corruption-what-is-the-story-behind-the-scandal-surrounding-the-politician-malcolm-smith\/#Criminal_proceeding\" >Criminal proceeding<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Education_and_early_career\"><\/span>Education and early career<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Malcolm Anthony Smith was born on August 9, 1956, in Queens. He studied business administration at Fordham University. Then Smith entered Adelphi University and became a member of the Delta Mu Delta business administration society. He also attended Harvard Law School and the Wharton School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After obtaining his degree, Smith began working in the real estate market. In 1985, he was appointed president of Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica. He established Smith Development Corporation in 1991, which built over 100 dwelling units in New York City. Malcolm oversaw a number of big commercial projects, including the interior of the Federal Aviation Administration building and the baseball fields in Roy Wilkins Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Political_career\"><\/span>Political career<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith started his political career as an aide to Congress members and the New York City Council. In the special election of 2000, he was first elected to the New York State Senate as a representative of the 10th district. He served in this position until December 2002. The New York State Senate is the upper house of the New York State Legislature (the lower house is the New York State Assembly). Its members are elected for a two-year period, with no limit on the number of terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.queensyes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/01\/hd9kzqqmhk79ur_vso1gjp1i8mq_mdlpwhzilnpkiszxb1-op2oo_6pnxybi2kuetaec2fc0rf0blvotqlbtud_jpaogtpv4irixtdicridbqmt8c1lvosphxjzfd4w4silx7kpsm151jbpqr-nvsn8.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith tried to change the culture of the State Senate to make it more open, transparent and bipartisan. To achieve this, he introduced and adopted changes to the regulations that fundamentally reformed the Senate\u2019s work and increased transparency for the public. In addition, Malcolm founded a bipartisan Temporary Committee on Rules and Administration to study and provide recommendations in case of significant changes in the activity and rules of the Senate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From 2003 to 2014, he represented the 14th district in the Senate. His unique abilities and broad experience in both the private and public sectors contributed to the advancement of social and economic opportunities for Queens voters. As part of a trade mission in 2003-2004, Smith led a delegation of local companies to China to initiate bilateral relations between this country and the United States. At the local level, Smith attracted millions of dollars to Queens that were spent on the construction of affordable housing, school updates and new jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In January 2009, Smith was elected Majority Leader and Lieutenant Governor of the state of New York. The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional and the second-highest-ranking official in the executive branch of the state government. The Majority Leader usually acts as the chief representative of his\/her party in the Senate and sometimes even in Congress. In addition, Smith served as Temporary President of the New York State Senate from 2009-2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith was the first black senator to hold these leadership positions. However, his stay in office was brief and ended in a scandal because of discrepancies and scams related to the Aqueduct casino.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.queensyes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/01\/reuxafwkwino9ysfq6hrks6f1ronr62kjiaepswjnxgesaanp3nove4sj3wraatnxbtdl1onpmnv0iy93bsgvamj0ciafu9qh3r9h-mnbe433lwwig3kiaehk8mwk1if_ih1jxlbso__8bwgk9ab4c8.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Legislative achievements of the New Yorker include securing funding for a medical facility in the Hollis area, a toxic waste treatment project in Jamaica and three draft laws aimed at combating sexual violence against children. Malcolm also took steps to reduce gun violence.&nbsp; He made every possible effort to attract business to Upstate New York and launched the One New York campaign, emphasizing the crucial role of the economy in the northern state for the growth and success of NY.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The high-profile murder of Sean Bell took place in November 2006. An unarmed African American man was shot by NYPD officers in Queens. As a result of this incident, public representatives sharply criticized local police officers. Afterward, Smith established and headed the Tri-Level Legislative Task Force. Its goal was to build public trust in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. State legislators took into account some of the recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Unsuccessful_election\"><\/span>Unsuccessful election<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>During the 2013 mayoral elections, Malcolm decided to run as a Republican. For this, he had to have the Wilson Pakula certification. This is a permission granted by a political party that allows a candidate who is not registered with that party to run for elections on their behalf. With this document, the politician could stand for the post of mayor as a Republican while being a registered Democrat. However, attempts to obtain this authorization resulted in Smith&#8217;s arrest for bribing Republican leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.queensyes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/01\/ak1tfw0iunfpoly0igofscaxzurptllbnsqo1gyfrehaoqhlghfdf4sss3kh9wffzl3aotqt8ki4fsm9ub4xdzpewo8qtbklsvcdnivnrvyeccutyopndyjb6r9iyig-32kyatgdcly0n2k0brjdaqo.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Criminal_proceeding\"><\/span>Criminal proceeding<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The legal proceedings against Smith began in June 2014. It was revealed during the investigation that some conversations, which could be used as evidence, were held in Yiddish, a Jewish dialect. It took several weeks to decipher and translate over 28 hours of recordings. In February 2015, the court found Malcolm guilty of all charges of corruption (conspiracy, fraud, bribery and extortion). The senator got seven years in jail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By attempting to illegally gain a seat in the elections, Smith violated one of the core principles of the democratic process. Candidates should not buy their way onto the ballot. At the time, the 58-year-old Mr. Smith remained emotionless during the hour-long hearing, occasionally reminding Judge Kenneth M. Karas of a letter he had written earlier. In this letter, the corrupt politician begged for mercy and described himself as a &#8220;humiliated and broken person.&#8221; But he did not confess to any of his crimes, nor did he express his remorse. Smith denied the claims of prosecutors regarding his thirst for power. According to the criminal, he wanted to become mayor because of &#8220;the opportunity to help others.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.queensyes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2024\/01\/i2v0zzlsu6sdjadkl-8js_ulpeabtwx8ywdp892th6g0fxjhgs_w29fbabwmv7mxvcovut-s2tkb_f13dd10phmn_gzh__iznm1ulyywldmp7ja7wsuij9cqv1fq4asonnkkl6nozw2c0ttqkqy5oz4.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The chief of the Republican Party in Queens and second defendant, Vincent Tabone, was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for bribe taking. Unlike the reserved Smith, Tabone displayed repentance at the trial. He took full responsibility for his actions and expressed his sincerest apologies for his behavior, which &#8220;brought shame to his family.&#8221; Tabone cried while recounting conversations with his 7-year-old son about his ordeal. At one point, he turned to his relatives and friends to apologise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, other politicians were involved in the case too. They were all convicted. The court&#8217;s verdicts marked a victory for the government in one of the largest special operations in the state&#8217;s history. In 2020, Malcolm was released from prison early and allowed to serve the rest of his sentence at his home in Queens. Such a decision was made due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The American politician from Queens, Malcolm Smith, became known for being the first African American to hold several administrative posts in the government agencies of the state of New York. He worked hard for the welfare of the community and championed state-wide economic growth, equal opportunities and government reform. However, a political scandal damaged Smith&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":291,"featured_media":2398,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[490],"tags":[754,749,750,752,745,753,748,755,747,744,746,751,743],"motype":[491],"moformat":[93],"moimportance":[104],"class_list":{"0":"post-2494","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-pro-polituky","8":"tag-after-obtaining-his-degree","9":"tag-became-known-for-being-the-first-african-american-to-hold-several-administrative-posts-in-the-government-agencies-of-the-state-of-new-york","10":"tag-being-a-democrat","11":"tag-education-and-early-career","12":"tag-he-turned-to-his-relatives-and-friends-to-apologise","13":"tag-malcolm-anthony-smith-was-born-on-august-9","14":"tag-malcolm-smith","15":"tag-smith-began-working-in-the-real-estate-market","16":"tag-the-american-politician-from-queens","17":"tag-the-chief-of-the-republican-party-in-queens-and-second-defendant","18":"tag-the-courts-verdicts-marked-a-victory-for-the-government-in-one-of-the-largest-special-operations-in-the-states-history","19":"tag-the-senator-decided-to-run-for-mayor-from-republicans","20":"tag-vincent-tabone","21":"motype-eternal","22":"moformat-longrid-korotka","23":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/291"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2494"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2494\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2495,"href":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2494\/revisions\/2495"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2398"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2494"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2494"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=2494"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=2494"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queensyes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=2494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}