Former New York state Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada was dealt a major setback in court today and now says he’s thinking about jettisoning his controversial request for a new trial.
Espada made the stunning tactical shift just days after calling a press conference to announce that he would seek a new trial because of perceived procedural missteps involving a jury that last year convicted him of embezzlement charges.
The unexpected development came minutes after Brooklyn federal Judge Frederic Block rejected Espada’s pleas to hire a new attorney and postpone his June 14 sentencing on embezzlement and tax fraud charges.
At a press conference afterwards, Espada was worried that his legal challenge would break his tax fraud plea deal with federal prosecutors.
With the agreement in place, he’s looking at five to seven years behind bars – or even less – but faces a significantly longer sentence if he breaks the deal by failing to acknowledge his wrongdoing.
“Now I’m threatened with more years in jail. I’m threatened by my son going first in the line-up of sentencing. I read the tea leaves. I”m 59 years-old. I understand,” Espada said.
Espada and his son, Gautier Espada, were convicted on a range corruption charges linked to misuse of the family’s government-subsidized health care firm to pay personal expenses.
“I’m going to be meeting with my family this weekend – and whatever they decide, I will do,” Espada told The Post after the hearing.
mmaddux@nypost.com