ALBANY – Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance launched a criminal probe today into wild overspending by an influential pro-choice charity that counts the state attorney general’s father as its treasurer.
The investigation came on the heels of a bombshell internal audit that found ex-NARAL Pro-Choice New York President Kelli Conlin siphoned more than $100,000 from the abortion rights group to support her own lavish lifestyle.
The leaked audit, which was first detailed Tuesday night on the State of Politics blog, questioned the longtime NARAL chief’s spending on meals, high-end clothing, a summer rental in the Hamptons and more than $100,000 on a car service she ordered to chauffeur her kids to school.
The allegations against one of New York’s most high-profile Democrat-allied activist groups could have far-reaching political implications, particularly for state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
Schneiderman, whose office regulates charities, received the abortion-rights group’s potent endorsement during last year’s contentious Democratic attorney general primary.
The attorney general’s father, Irwin Schneiderman, was NARAL’s treasurer during the period covered by the audit.
Schneiderman’s office, after promising for hours to respond, issued a statement late today pledging to name special counsel to handle “any potential investigation or agency action” into NARAL.
“Because of the nature of his father’s association with the organization, Attorney General Schneiderman will recuse himself from any investigation into the matter,” Schneiderman Danny Kanner said.
Meanwhile, Vance was already “actively investigating” the charity, according to a source familiar with the probe.
It was unclear how long the matter had been under review.
NARAL has slipped into the red in recent years, running up a deficit of at least $417,616 in 2009 despite only taking in $310,324 in revenue, according to Post review of its public financial statements.
That year, the charity reported paying only $171,255 in salaries and compensation on its balance sheet, even though it listed elsewhere five employees earning more than $100,000.
Conlin herself claimed a compensation package worth $349,502, including a $90,000 bonus.
NARAL spokeswoman Mary Alice Carr declined to comment.
“The preliminary report that has been obtained is in draft form and the organizations are involved in an ongoing investigation,” NARAL said Tuesday night. “No conclusions have been reached based on the information gathered thus far.”
brendan.scott@nypost.com