Nov 5, 2009 1:50 pm US/Eastern
Union Official Recalls Bruno Fund Investment Pitch
ALBANY (CBS) ―
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NY Senate Leader Joseph Bruno (File Image)
CBS
A former Teamsters union official says then-Sen. Joseph Bruno told him in 1994 that Wright Investors Service wanted to manage his local's pension fund and didn't disclose he was being paid by Wright.
Howard Bennett, a fund trustee for Local 294, says he knew Bruno for years personally and as a lawmaker with a good record on labor issues. He contacted Bruno sometimes about union legislative concerns. He testified Thursday at Bruno's federal corruption trial.
While Wright did get pension fund business, Bennett says there was "no quid pro quo" and Wright had to stack up financially in bidding.
Bruno, who was Senate majority leader from 1995 until retiring last year, faces eight fraud charges. He's accused of using his state influence to enrich himself.
After his retirement, Bruno became chief executive officer of CMA Consulting Services. CMA, an information technology consulting business based in the Albany County suburb of Latham, is headed by Kay McCabe Stafford, the widow of Republican Sen. Ronald Stafford.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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