Former Bronx Sen. Pedro Espada is beginning his trial today in Brooklyn federal court on fraud charges, and a key part of the government’s case centers around Espada’s misuse of a corporate credit card provided to him by the Soundview Health Clinic, a not for profit health center he founded. Espada’s defense attorney released Espada’s credit-card bill into evidence prior to the start of trial, and while many of the expenditures have come out in news articles, such as the… [More]

Looming trial doesn’t faze inimitable former Bronx senator On the 10th floor of the Brooklyn federal courthouse, former Bronx Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. waited, in a dark suit with broad white pinstripes and a purple tie, surrounded by his son and five-person legal team. The February weather was unseasonably warm outside and Espada, facing an 18-count fraud indictment, was immoderately relaxed. “I feel hopeful about life,” he said with an impish grin, “because I am blessed.” Aware of his media… [More]

The day before his indictment on stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from his nonprofit health clinic, outgoing Senate Majority Pedro Espada, Jr., took some parting shots at his arch-nemesis, Andrew Cuomo.… [More]