A lawyer scheduled to be sworn in as a surrogate judge on New Year’s Day will likely never see the bench, now that she’s been charged with illegal fund-raising for her campaign.
Nora Anderson was in Manhattan Criminal Court yesterday, arraigned on charges of accepting excessive campaign donations from her boss, Brooklyn trusts and estates lawyer Seth Rubenstein.
Rubenstein, who was also arraigned, loaned Anderson $225,000, a sum Anderson was required to repay by Election Day or it would be considered a donation, the Manhattan DA’s Office said.
Candidates are allowed to contribute as much as they want to their own campaigns, but outside donors can give no more than $33,122.50.
In August, when Anderson became cash-strapped, Rubenstein wrote her checks totaling $250,000, which she cashed personally and then donated to her campaign in her own name, the DA charged.
Anderson and Rubenstein face up to five years in prison if convicted.
Anderson’s lawyer, Gus Newman, and Rubenstein’s lawyer, Frederick Hafetz, said their clients would be vindicated.