Carolyn McCarthy Took Money from Lobbyist Now Charged with Funneling Illegal Cash to Pols

Long Island Rep. Carolyn McCarthy got thousands of dollars in campaign checks from a lobbyist and his son who’ve since been charged with funneling illegal cash to politicians.

At the same time the money was pouring in, McCarthy sponsored millions of taxpayer dollars in congressional “earmarks” for some of the lobbyist’s clients, records show.

Since 2007, the Long Island Democrat has steered $4.3 million to two clients of the now-defunct PMA Group, a lobbying firm that employed the recently indicted Paul Magliocchetti and his son, Mark.

The Magliocchettis were charged Aug. 4 for what federal prosecutors in Alexandria, Va., say were illegal campaign contributions made from at least 2003 through 2008.

Paul Magliocchetti has pleaded not guilty. Mark Magliochetti has pleaded guilty to one count of making illegal donations. He admitted that he routinely acted as a conduit for donations made by others to Congress members – an illegal tactic aimed at hiding the true source of the money.

In his plea, Mark Magliocchetti admitted making as much as $200,000 in illegal donations from 2002 through 2008. Records show that since 2006, McCarthy has been the recipient of $11,200 from Mark Magliocchetti, his wife and two others implicated in the scheme.

At the same time, McCarthy also received at least $50,000 in campaign checks from PMA group employees, associates and clients.

Read more: (Benjamin Lesser, “Carolyn McCarthy Took Money from Lobbyist Now Charged with Funneling Illegal Cash to Pols,” New York Daily News, 09/07/10)