The leader of a powerful city union who allegedly accepted lavish gifts, exotic trips and cold hard cash in exchange for the investment of pension funds was arrested by the FBI on corruption charges in an ongoing investigation focusing on the NYPD and City Hall. Jonathan Dienst reports.
The former head of New York City's jail guard union has pleaded not guilty in his bribery case.
Norman Seabrook entered the plea Friday in his federal indictment in Manhattan.
He's been charged with funneling $20 million in union funds to a hedge fund through a middleman in exchange for a $60,000 kickback. He told reporters outside court Friday that he expects to be vindicated.
Seabrook was removed as president of the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association following his arrest last month.
Overlapping federal corruption probes have also resulted in bribery charges against NYPD officers and implicated businessmen with ties to Mayor de Blasio's election campaign.
The Democratic mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
