ALBANY – Top Republicans yesterday called for a criminal probe of Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith for allegedly threatening lobbyists who fail to contribute to Democratic campaigns.
“I think it borders on criminality,” said Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-LI). “You cannot threaten people to give contributions. That’s thuggery. Quid pro quo is a crime – you go to jail.”
Senate Investigations Committee Chairman George Winner (R-Elmira) said Smith, of Queens, “may have broken several laws – including coercion, official misconduct, attempted bribery and even conspiracy.”
The lawmakers were reacting to a detailed report in yesterday’s Post revealing that Smith told a group of lobbyists at a golf outing and fund-raising event for Senate Democrats in upstate Kingston last week that their clients would be shut out of a possibly Democrat-controlled Senate in January if they didn’t pony up large contributions now.
Smith refused for three days to discuss his remarks, but late yesterday, in response to the GOP attacks, he issued a statement claiming his remarks were meant to “entertain” the lobbyists who attended the event.
“We were, on the day in question, at a golf outing [and] rain forced us indoors,” said Smith. “And, like any good host, it was important to entertain all guests. That is simply what occurred. And nothing else.”