Bloomberg aide, John Haggerty, indicted for stealing $1.1M

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 A power player in the Republican Party and former campaign aid to Mayor Bloomberg was indicted today allegedly for stealing $1.1 million from the mayor that was supposed to go to Election Day poll security.

John Haggerty, 41 is a power broker in the Republican Party establishment located from Queens. The indictment handed down in Manhattan Criminal Court, Monday morning alleges Haggerty created a shady poll-watching operation, concealed his theft by writing faulty checks and purchased a $600,000 house with the mayor's money.

"At a time when the public is particularly distrusting about our state government processes, his use of a shell company to conceal his involvement from the public simply further breed’s cynicism," said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. as he announced the indictment. 

Haggerty worked on Bloomberg's first re-election campaign in 2005, when Queens Republicans were split between Bloomberg and former Republican city councilman Tom Ognibene.

Mayor Bloomberg at a press conference today declined to comment on the indictment saying Vance asked him not to. However Vance said the campaign did nothing wrong it was swindled by Haggerty because they trusted him. 

According to the indictment, Haggerty faces charges of grand larceny, money laundering and falsifying business records  

Haggerty plead not guilty and will appear in court on July 29th.

If convicted Haggerty would spend 44 years in prison.