An investigation by the USA TODAY Network New York has revealed that corrupt officials in the state are not losing their pensions as intended by a 2011 ethics reform law. Despite overwhelming voter support for expanding pension forfeiture for convicted officials in 2017, no cases have been found where pensions have been revoked.
The Public Integrity Reform Act was passed in response to major corruption scandals involving state officials such as former state Sen. Vincent Leibell and former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi. The law aimed to create a new ethics watchdog, increase financial disclosures, and allow the state to claw back pensions for felonious officials. However, the law has been largely ineffective.
Prosecutors are tasked with seeking pension forfeiture, but many are focused on pursuing criminal cases, while others may be unaware of the laws. Federal prosecutors often handle public corruption cases, but the laws do not extend to federal convictions. Additionally, police officers and teachers were excluded from the law’s reach, even though they are also at risk of corruption-related crimes.
Despite examples of corrupt officials, such as former town supervisor William Tarby and former Utica mayor Louis LaPolla, being convicted of corruption-related offenses, they are still able to collect their pensions. The complexity of the laws, lack of awareness among prosecutors, and exclusion of certain professions from the law’s reach have all contributed to the failure of pension forfeiture in New York.
The investigation highlights the need for better enforcement and awareness of the pension forfeiture laws to hold corrupt officials accountable and restore public trust in New York’s government.
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