FLASHBACK: State Sen. Malcolm Smith is embroiled in a ballot scandal revealed by The Post (above) April 2. (
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Embattled state Sen. Malcolm Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday for allegedly plotting to bribe his way onto this year’s mayoral ballot.
The indictment, which also charges City Councilman Dan Halloran in the scheme, came two weeks after the two Queens politicians were busted by FBI agents for shady conduct — and brought renewed calls for Smith to step down from the state Senate.
“As I said hours after the arrest, given the level of criminality alleged, I believe that Senator Smith should seriously consider whether or not he can continue to effectively serve his constituents,” said Sen. Jeff Klein of The Bronx.
Klein last week ejected Smith, 56, from the Independent Democratic Conference when the Legislature reconvened in Albany for the first time since Smith’s April 2 arrest.
Smith and Halloran, 42, face up to 45 years in prison if convicted of the charges in the White Plains indictment.
The Post broke the news that Smith and Halloran were being arrested for the alleged harebrained plot, which sent shockwaves at the notion the mayoralty could be for sale.
Smith, a Democrat, allegedly enlisted the help of Halloran, a conservative Republican, to get on the Republican primary ballot.
Because he is a Democrat, Smith, by law, needed Republican Party support in at least three boroughs to run as a GOP candidate without changing his party affiliation.
Prosecutors claim that in a effort to get that support, Smith had Halloran set up meetings with GOP leaders and negotiated thousands of dollars in bribes, while Halloran pocketed thousands for himself.
Among those allegedly bribed were Bronx Republican Chairman Joseph Savino and Queens Vice Chairman Vincent Tabone — who were also indicted yesterday, along with suburban Spring Valley Mayor Noramie Jasmin and Deputy Mayor Joseph Desmaret, who are accused of plotting with Smith to direct $500,000 in state transportation money to a deal that resulted in an $80,000 payment to GOP bosses on Smith’s behalf.