New York state Senator Carl Kruger is one of the four notorious Democrats who killed David Patterson’s push to legalize gay marriage in the state last year. So it should come as no surprise that he is utterly corrupt and lives with his gay lover and his gay lover’s mother. According to the charges against him, Kruger accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for support in the legislature, and his lover Michael Turano set up fake companies to accept the money. It’s still unclear why a gay man like Kruger whose party even supported gay marriage saw the need to kill it with the help of a few friends, unless he was just trying to be the worst state senator humanly possible.
A big chunk of that illicit cash came from well-known New York lobbyist Richard Lipsky — who in return got Kruger to sponsor bills, lobby other elected officials and direct state money to projects that benefited Lipsky’s clients, prosecutors said. [...]
The criminal complaint revealed that on Monday, FBI agents raided Lipsky’s Upper West Side residence, where they found $102,000 in cash from a safe in a closet and $4,000 “in crisp, large denominational bills from the pocket of a suit belonging to Lipsky.”
When New York finally legalizes gay marriage, they should make an exception for this guy. He doesn’t deserve gay rights, but then again, he will be locked up in prison anyway.
We repeat, this closested gay-hating crook is not a Republican. [NYP via Gawker]
{ 126 comments }
When did Lindsey Graham move to New York? Oh wait, this is a different closeted pol.
Kruger looks like he is about to molest that priest in the photo.
"Glad-handing", so to speak.
The poor priest, possibly a victim of a man in a position of trust. It's an outrage.
Thanks for pointing out which was which; I couldn't tell from the article whether Kruger was the short'un or the one sportin' the bling.
No, he's saying "Nice work Father."
Quid, meet quo.
Yup. Tit-pro-tat.
If he's the one doing the molesting, he's not doing it right.
All malfeasance on the part of the elected official aside, who are these people who drop massive bribes just to make sure gay folks can't get married?
Does it make them feel good, subverting democracy while simultaneously restricting other people rights? Does that get you into Jesus Sharia Heaven?
I think they must be people who fear that, once gay marriage is legal and proves to be no threat to society short of normal custody battles, a crucial right-wing decoy issue will be removed from the tool set of the demagogues. If the deluded masses find that yet another right-wing talking point is a lie, they may begin to figure out that the right wing maybe lies about everything, which they do.
have to disagree. If ghey marriage is eventually accepted we'll just go back to arguing about whether or not gravity is a liebrul plot to make them old and saggy.
For that kind of money, the bribery was most likely all-purpose (mostly business interests, I guess), and the anti-ghey thing was probably just a side issue to test how thoroughly they owned this sorry sack of legislative feces.
All snark aside, that's a plausible theory.
Agreed. It seems possible, too, that the anti-gay part could have set up a blackmail device or poison pill in their arrangement.
I still say it's because then their argument of "but honey, it's not legal, so why should I leave my wife?" will no longer hold water.
I think they're the Catholic and Mormon churches, who make tons of money from brainwashing people into believing incredible fantasies from birth, part of which involves the teaching that they have a duty to give money to the organization every week.
Kind of reminds me of the pot growers that contributed money to defeat marijuana legalization in California, after they were reminded that legal marijuana would make it cheaper for people to buy it.
Yet another sign of the Apocalypse: black is white, night is day, up is down, etc…
I understand your confusion. However, (D) Mill Basin is the NYC equivalent of (R) Anywhere Else.
I'll bet Gov. Paterson didn't see this one coming.
I laughed, and yet I'm ashamed. Ah, the joys of Wonkette!
Faptastic GF!
You win the Execrable Prize of the Week! Congratulations you bristling sociopath!!
He should have smelled it coming (either meaning of the word).
Not that there is anything wrong with that. No, wait, what?
He's clearly innocent.
If he was guilty he would have kept the money in the freezer where bribes belong.
Mmmmm…. some o' that cold hard cash, jest like you get in the south.
FTW.
But the safe was in the closet too. So even an inanimate object couldn't be open about its sexuality.
Don't count out the NY legislature in your corrupt state government bracket.
I think $arah knows a guy who could help him.
Jack-
not to split hairs or anything, but instead of "worst state senator humanly possible", didn't you mean to write "worst human possible"?
His lawyer said they are going to "mount a vigorous defense". Is that what the kids are calling it these days?
And I bet that the "vigorous defense" will vigorously resist being mounted.
Plunkett of Tammany Hall is shocked and spinning in his grave.
Maybe he is too cheap to buy his boyfriend a ring.
I'm confused. Is he the gladhanding gay guy with the cross, or the short, homely gay guy on the left?
Maybe the guy hates marriage. Maybe the guy loves cash. Dang, I guess today, we're all NY Dems.
He doesn’t deserve gay rights, but then again, he will be locked up in prison anyway
Which probably explains why he did it. If you were gay, would you rather be living with your lover and his Mom or in Prison? Really, as a gay dude, that has to be a win/win situation.
I don't think they're shaking hands.
Yeah! What's Kruger doing with his other had to the Priest's ass?
But that Kruger is an adult, no priest would be interested in him.
His dick's tiny enough that not one of them's complained yet.
ahhh NY. giving IL a serious run for 'most corrupt' crown.
It's probably all about keeping the boyfriend from getting legal access to his bribe money in the case of a breakup.
This is the kind of gay that gives santorum a bad name.
Or the kind of santorum that gives gay a bad name.
So, does this mean he was only gay for pay?
I'm just so confused and don't know what to believe in any more…
Alcohol and chocolate. Alcohol and chocolate.
This must be taken as a sign from the creator of the universe intervening in my moment of doubt!!!
I believe in Wonkette and Jon Stewart – in that order. Everything else is piffle.
Let's not rush to judgement. How wide is his stance?
Downfister is all over this thread, which means that we have an extra piece of the puzzle: apparently gay Dems who vote against the gay, for money, are teh awesome.
Also, alt-text translates both as "fee for service" and "for f**k's sake", which is pretty slick if intentional.
this guy is gonna carpal tunnel syndrome
In that case, upfists for everyone.
I think I'm being
followedstalked by a bunch of these fisty fiends. HEY TROLLS, I DON'T PUT OUT ON A FIRST DATE, JUST SO YOU KNOW.For a while now stories like this have had a real surprise affect to them. "Wow, guy votes against gay rights then turns out to be gay. Weird!" But by now it really isn't so surprising anymore and what we should be learning is that politics as a profession is apparently like a magnet that draws assholes of every variety.
No kidding. And the fact that he's a Democrat isn't even the least bit surprising, because we expect people in power to be bribed. Kind of sad, huh?
Some men will go to any lengths to get out of getting married.
Maybe Kruger is a closet neo-con blowhard, a Kristol Ghey-al.
Perhaps a half-hearted neocon. A Kristol-light if you would.
A corrupt from Legislator from New York, a lying egomanical Governor from Texas, and koch-sucking Governor from Wisconsin.
Folks I am out of here. Between this and the tsunami, it's off to Ohio for me!
whelp, time to learn Canadian.
This is good news for Carl Paladino!
"We repeat, this closested gay-hating crook is not a Republican."
But he might be a teabagger.
Today's version of a Reagan Democrat = Teabagging Democrat. And it this case, it appears to be true quite literally.
Wow. Talk about instant karma for Glenn Beck. Does a good thing, and BOOM! This story.
…on a sidenote, doesn't he kind of look like that "inconceivable!" dude from Princess Bride?
Kruger voted against marriage equality because he took Xtine O'dumell's class on how not to be gay. It worked so well, he's still gay but feels bad about it.
Love the avatar! You're an artist.
Well of course he voted against gay marriage; you know how bad a boyfriends' live-in mother's nagging would get if the two could get married.
He's obviously also a closeted Republican.
The fucking DINO.
May he drown in a tsunami of santorum.
"It’s still unclear why a gay man like Kruger … saw the need to kill it with the help of a few friends"
He had a vision in which thousands of Ben Franklin clones asked him to oppose it. Looots of Ben Franklins.
Dick Lipsky's hot Carl cash was in the closet?
I don't get it. Cash found in the pocket of the "briber" proves the payment of a bribe to the senator? Must be either a very persuasive lobbyist or a very stupid senator.
Or maybe the briber just had the senator autograph, instead of keep, those "crisp, large-denomination bills." Makes as much sense as the senator's vote.
The article seemed to be missing a few things. Which is weird, because I usually expect Seymour Hersh-style reporting from the Post.
This will serve as proof that the GOP is REALLY the party fighting for gay rights. Also proves that Obama grew up a Meow Meow.
But who do you think is planning those weddings?
Pissed-off gays, that's who!
Too bad he isn't a Republican, because then he would never have to go to prison for breaking the law.
$4,000 “in crisp, large denominational bills from the pocket of a suit belonging to Lipsky.”
New York City corruption at its best. He keeps four grand in tip money in case he runs into a politician he hasn't bribed recently. Total class.
Let's hope the suit was silk. It adds a Vegas-y touch.
Sharkskin?
"…where they found $102,000 in cash from a safe in a closet…"
Well, duh, toss100K in a closet and I'll go in there for a long time.
Wallace Shawn has really put on a lot of weight…
So who is Kruger's crisp, denominational friend in that photo?
Jeez, trick or treat dudes..
The marriage cops need to retire and play golf or bingo in New York Harbor. Onward to full marriage equality rights now.
Cheers, Joe Mustich, CT Justice of the Peace, USA.
Wallace Shawn has put on some serious weight…
between this and the glen beck story…is it backwards day today at wonkette?
Indeed.
Gay-hating dems AND Glenn Beck wackadoos telling the actual truth? I'm done with today. Something is amiss.
Butt-fucking your bribe-taking lover is one thing, but did he attend a lascivious gay pride parade? That's the real issue.
Quick, someone throw this a-hole a vagina!!!
The lack of spousal privilege will be a bitch when it comes time to testify.
Nice.
Severe winnage.
When I saw the photo, I was hoping against hope the boyfriend/briber was also a priest, but no such luck. The church dodges another bullet. Archbishop Dolan must have opened a bottle of champagne in celebration. "We got the vote, and we're not even accused of paying for it. Huzzah!"
This man lives with his MIL?
WEIRD…
YOU KNOW WHO ELSE LIVES WITH HIS MIL?
OBAMA!
Wake up sheeple! This is proof of white house corruption!
The audassity.
It's a venerable tradition, homophobe hypocrisy, pioneered by that Upper East Side society playboy, Roy Cohn, back in the day when he was McCarthy's ratdog. You remember Roy? Bragged about killing the Rosenbergs single-handed, with a head so full of helium he thought he could destroy the Army for sending his gay lover, the Paris Hilton of his day, to war. Later became a noted connoisseur of gay loverboys and a staunch opponent of gay rights. Died of AIDS. If you didn't know all this, blame Traditional News.
According to Angels in America RC always denied being gay. That's good enough for me!
"…crisp, large denominational bills…?”
I prefer large non-denominational bills in case I need to get change from a temple, mosque or synagogue…
PS: Does "large denominational" make one a top and not a bottom?
"Dorothey Turano, who is, at 73, much older than Kruger, was often seen out in public with him, "and some neighbors described the two as a couple," the Times says."
Hmm ancient balding gay menage a trois living in Mill Basin in a former mob boss's home. Not so much worst senator as worst crossover between Three's Company and Everybody loves Raymond.
I think CBS has a plan to replace 2 and 1/2 men now.
Wasn't there another brother? Menage a quattro?
Can it possibly be true that the brothers were gynecolgists? (h/t Gail Collins)
Way too weird, Where is Hunter Thompson?
So he got a wad from Dick Lipsky but not even a heavily edited glance from the Dildo Sailor? No wonder he haz a sad.
Thank you, Wonkette, for making me ponder the immortal question, "Are there any of our elected officials that aren't totally corrupt and deserving of long luxurious baths in boiling tar?"
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !
*head explodes*
That is all.
Honestly, if you are closeted and living with your gay lover, the gay lovers's 70-s.t. mom is just icing on the cake.
I think he should be required to enter into a polygamous gay marriage while in prison.
Layers and layers of embarrassment; deliciousssssss…….
Hold it now: He's not gay; he's not a criminal; he's not a republican. Denial Trifecta!
What a hunk! Plus, one night of passion with this Lard-Muffin and you won't need another lube job for at least 50,000 miles. A definite winner there, friends.
Are you saying the quakes are God's Judgment on us for not passing a federal gay marriage act? God is wise- he knows we like japanese cars- so he struck at the source.
Kruger must be big into Yaoi
Wait! Wait! It gets better! Carl Kruger's boyfriend, Dr. Michael S. Turano, is a gynecologist. (Well, he may be a money-launderer, but at least he wasn't spending his time looking up old girlfriends…)
No, he's not a Republican, he just totally sucks at being human, which is something far worse, though, not always mutually exclusive.
He's as useful as an internment camp snitch.
Surprise buttchex!
Interpreting "E Pluribus Unum" as "Hive Of Scum & Villainy" – some people need to stop doing this.
Oh yeah, put the guy in prison.
One of the only ones to drop the soap on purpose.
Oh, Oh, Lobby me Biatch.
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That Honey Badger just doesn't give a shit.
Wait, it gets better. (Didn't think that was possible, did you?)
Among the others charged is real-estate developer Aaron Malinsky, who the feds say funneled $472,500 to Kruger via Turano's shell companies, for his support of a Brooklyn real-estate project. A project approved by – are you sitting down? – the district manager for Brooklyn Community Board 18, Dorothy Turano, a.k.a. momma Turano to this happy family. (The Board had recently rejected a similar dvelopment project on the same site by a different, but presumably honest, developer.) You can't make this stuff up. Not even Carl Hiaasen, if you coked him to the gills, could make this up.
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