Harrington Bruno Gj 109

January 28, 2009

CONTACT 330-9114

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Harrington Calls on Bruno to Disclose Whether He Testified to Federal Grand Jury? POESTENKILL…Rensselaer County Legislator Kevin Harrington (D) Dist 2, today asked Senator Joseph Bruno to disclose whether he testified before the Federal Grand Jury which indicted him? “In recent days the Senator has taken to media visits to protest his innocence, calling this investigation a “fishing expedition”. His visits have included a live half hour interview on Capital News 9 and yesterday at the Troy Record Editorial Board. The real question is whether he spent a half hour answering the questions of the Grand Jury which indicted him and if not why not?” Harrington recalled that former Albany County Democratic Chairman and Cohoes Mayor, Robert Signoracci, had nothing to fear and voluntarily testified before the Federal Grand Jury that was reportedly investigating him. “The Grand Jury listened to his sworn testimony and issued no bill against him”, stated Harrington. If Senator Bruno did not testify, then why not, asked Harrington? These are the people that needed to hear his sworn account of the questions surrounding his conduct, not reporters who have no vote in the Grand Jury. Harrington stated that if Bruno did testify before the Grand Jury, he has the right to release his sworn testimony and he should disclose this testimony so the public can see why the Grand Jury chose not to believe him. What did the Senator do to earn the more than 3 million dollars cited in the indictment? Why did he fail to disclose these earnings to appropriate State agencies? Why did he fail to disclose to those involved in various business deals that he stood to earn fees if they followed his advice or direction? The time for using the media to generate sympathy for these serious charges must end because there remains a substantial difference between presenting his case to the media where he is not under oath and sworn testimony to those who count, the Grand Jurors. The Senator’s answers may cause the media to question why they should allow him to present his case to them if he refused to do so under oath to the Grand Jury.