Power broker Ray Harding, the former head of New York’s Liberal Party, says he’ll surrender today to face charges in a so-called pay-to-play scheme — where big-buck investments by public-employee pension funds were allegedly traded for kickbacks, gifts and campaign contributions.
The dirty-deal scheme has already ensnared Democratic political consultant Hank Morris and David Loglisci, a top lieutenant to disgraced former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi; both were indicted in March.
State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has accused Morris of using the pension fund, valued at the time at $122 billion, “as his own piggy bank,” and hinted at “several cases and developments.”
In the Morris indictment, charges included enterprise corruption, securities fraud, grand larceny, bribery and money laundering.
Harding lawyer David Frankel said charges against his 74-year-old client would be “narrower.”
“Ray has had a long and honorable career in both private and public life, and his work as a placement agent on behalf of highly respected firms was equally honorable and entirely lawful,” Frankel said.
Meanwhile, the investigation has ensnared a Dallas hedge fund executive. Records unsealed yesterday show Barrett Wissman pleaded guilty March 31 to securities fraud. His lawyer says Wissman is cooperating.
With Post wire services