Scandalous letter alleges blackmail, hush money among Oneida County Legislators
Story Created:
Nov 5, 2009 at 12:06 PM EST
Story Updated:
Nov 5, 2009 at 5:18 PM EST
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - A letter circulating among Oneida County lawmakers makes scathing accusations of blackmail and hush money....and sweetheart leases based on personal relationships.
The letter appears to be signed by Oneida County Legislator Bill Hendricks. But while he says he approves the content...Hendricks will not admit to writing the letter.
"What's important about the letter, is the content," said Hendricks.
The letter writer accuses Legislative Board Chairman Gerald Fiorini of pushing through a $1-a-year lease for the Insight House Drug & Alcohol Abuse Treatment Center because of a personal relationship with Insight House CEO Donna Vitagliano.
According to county records, that lease has been in place for 12 years. Legislative Majority Leader David Wood said the lease was recently extended from the year 2017 to 2033, not because of any personal relationships, but because the organization is seeking state funding and the state required the longer lease commitment.
"The request for an extension was due to the fact that they had requested additional assistance through the State of New York Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse and the state requires a longer period of time," Wood said.
The letter also claims that Legislator Larry Tanoury tried to blackmail Fiorini by asking for $35,000 in hush money for his district in exchange for keeping the Insight House Lease and alleged personal relationship quiet.
But Majority Leader Wood said the request for the money was made by the leader of the organization that needs it. Wood said the letter's allegations are shocking, and not based in fact
"That's what shocked me the most about it; the complete un-factual nature of the allegation," Wood said.
Wood also said he can't begin to imagine who would write such a letter, and why.
"No idea," he said. "No idea. I can't even ascribe anything to it, it's so out of space related."
Most Popular