Former Bronx GOP Chairman Joseph “Jay” Savino on Monday fingered ex-City Councilman Dan Halloran for jurors as the “quarterback” of a failed $200,000 bribery scheme to get Democratic state Sen. Malcolm Smith the Republican line in last year’s mayoral race.
“Have you ever accepted a bribe?” federal prosecutor Justin Anderson asked Savino, who pleaded guilty in November to pocketing $15,000 as part of the scheme.
“Yes,” he answered, and when asked who arranged the bribe, Savino said, “Dan Halloran.”
Anderson later showed the jury transcripts of text messages between Halloran and Savino on Valentine’s Day 2013, shortly after Savino allegedly secured his cash bribe during a meeting outside Spark’s Steakhouse in Manhattan.
Halloran tells Savino in a text, “Tell me u love me.”
Savino replied, “I am f—–g freaking. u are my f—–g Valentine. I f—–g love you.”
Savino explained to the jury that he actually wasn’t interested in Halloran romantically, but rather just excited that had scored “$15,000” through a retainer for a no-show consulting job.
Savino, a former power-broker lawyer, also confided to jurors about how far he’s fallen hard since being busted by the feds, saying he now works at a restaurant cleaning bathrooms and filling ice trays.
He began to weep and wiped tears from his eyes with tissues while discussing having give up his law license after taking a plea deal.
Savino also admitted living in Rockland County hamlet of Congers, NY – not the Bronx.
He said the feds as part of his plea agreement opted not to prosecute him for lying about his address for years so he could vote in the Bronx — a move that also allowed him keep his Bronx Republican chairmanship.
The feds also haven’t prosecuted Savino over other alleged crimes, including charges that he used party funds for personal expenses, Savino said.
Halloran is accused of pocketing $20,500 in cash bribes for masterminding cross-party negotiations to get Smith — one of the state’s top Democrats — the Republican line in last year’s mayoral race.
Halloran is also facing charges of allegedly pocketing $18,300 in cash bribes and $6,500 in straw-donor campaign donations for agreeing to steer $80,000 of council discretionary funding for his district to a company he believed was controlled by those who paid him the bribes.
Halloran faces up to 45 years behind bars if convicted. Smith heads to trial in January.