An Israeli national enmeshed in a probe into a Staten Island congressman’s election campaign was released on bail today after spending more than a month behind bars.
Ofer Biton, who owns a series of pita restaurants in Manhattan and is facing immigration fraud charges, was released on a $1.5 million bond after a hard fought battle between federal prosecutors and defense attorneys that stretched over several weeks.
Biton’s attorney, John Meringolo, accused the feds of targeting the restaurateur in an effort to force him to testify against Rep. Michael Grimm (R-SI), whose 2010 election bid is the focus of an FBI campaign finance probe.
“They feel he has information about a politician,” Meringolo told a judge.
Brooklyn Assistant US Attorney Anthony Capozzolo countered that Biton could try to flee the country to avoid an ongoing probe.
“We are investigating many other things” about Biton, Capozzolo told the judge.
Judge Nicholas Garaufis upheld a magistrate judge’s order releasing Biton, who will now be under house arrest at his Upper East Side apartment and be required to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet while awaiting trial.
Biton raised thousands of dollars for Grimm during the campaign, which federal prosecutors are scrutinizing for financial irregularities, a source said.
mmaddux@nypost.com