Indicted City Councilman Ruben Wills was trying to get the goods on fellow lawmakers — and get the heat off himself during a state probe of his shady nonprofit — by wearing a wire, The Post has learned.
Wills, who was arrested last week by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, was doing the secret recording at the behest of Schneiderman’s office, two sources said.
But Wills apparently failed to deliver.
“He was radioactive, and nobody would speak to him,” a lawmaker said. “Nobody would have anything to do with him.”
Schneiderman’s office began investigating Wills and his charity, New York 4 Life, in 2012 but took no action until last week.
“They’re mad at him for not getting the goods,” the source said.
Wills, a Queens Democrat, was charged with stealing more than $30,000 in taxpayer dough and using some of the cash to fund shopping sprees and buy a $750 Louis Vuitton purse.
Wills’ old boss, state Sen. Shirley Huntley, allocated money to New York 4 Life through a “member item” grant. Wills worked as Huntley’s chief of staff.
“I am not resigning on charges,” Wills said after his arrest Wednesday morning. “This is America, people. We are presumed innocent before we are proven guilty.”