Jimmy V. had the drop on this earlier, but the Center For Working Families’ report on the “legal corruption” of ex-Sen. Pedro Espada is worth amplifying.

The CWF found that the erstwhile lawmaker now facing federal corruption charges for siphoning money meant for his Soundview Health Clinic, Hoovered up money from a variety of special interests.

Espada was initially a small-time fundraiser, relying on himself, family and employees to donate to his Senate campaign.

But things took a different turn after Espada became chairman of the Senate House Committee and the Bronx Democrat became a powerbroker in the upper chamber.

From the report:

After the 2008 election, Espada held the balance of power in the Senate with three other senators. Democrats had a 32-30 majority, but before agreeing to support his own party he held out for a leadership position and took over as the powerful chairman of the Housing Committee – where he could determine which housing bills would move forward. The industry responded generously, increasing their contributions to the Espada campaign chest from a few thousand dollars in his first Board of Elections report to quarter-million dollars when Espada led the committee.

In return, the CFW says Espada’s so-called “Rent Freeze” bill was proposed actually had the intention of allowing landlords remove rent-regulated apartments out of the government’s perview.

Espada Fact Sheet – Final on Letterhead 4-3-12

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