Kruger To Surrender To Feds On Corruption Charges

State Senator Carl Kruger is the most prominent name on a list of political and public leaders to be indicted tomorrow morning on federal corruption charges, according to reports.

The state senator is expected to face charges related to a corruption investigation previously unknown to the public.

That means these new charges are completely unrelated to the existing FBI probe that involved Rasputin nightclub owner Michael Levitis. That probe, dating back to 2007, explored an alleged influence peddling scheme in which Levitis was recorded telling another restaurateur that the state senator would help him with state matters if he held a fundraiser and turned over thousands of dollars for the politician’s campaign. Levitis pleaded guilty to lying to investigators last week, and Kruger’s representatives told Courier-Life that it was evidence his hands were clean.

Not much is known about the current charges and a press conference is expected to be held by federal prosecutors tomorrow. An anonymous source told the Daily News that the charges may include allegations that Kruger used his influence in the Senate to push for approval of a merger of a now-defunct Queens hospital.

State Senator Kruger has been a longtime power-broker in his district, wrangling political support – and, more frequently, silence – by being a patron to many organizations through discretionary funding, grants and other means of financial disbursement for the programs of community groups, religious organizations and civic associations across the neighborhood. Regardless of the extent of the charges, the neighborhood is sure to be rattled by a potential loosened grasp for a political player that brought hundreds of thousands of dollars into the community.

NY Post: B’klyn Sen. Kruger will surrender to face corruption charges
Daily News: State Sen. Carl Kruger to surrender to feds on bribery charges, cashing in on hospital merger
New York Times: Brooklyn Senator to Turn Himself In