But what about Bill de Blasio?
That’s the question an indicted Long Island politician asks in a court filing that claims he’s the victim of “selective prosecution” because the feds accused him of corruption tied to a Queens restaurateur — but let the New York City mayor off the hook.
In searing court papers, ex-Nassau County executive Ed Mangano cited last week’s disclosure that the star witness against him also admitted to bribing de Blasio with tens of thousands of dollars in campaign cash.
“The new revelations in this case demonstrate: (1) that prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York had both ample evidence and authority to charge Mayor de Blasio; and (2) that they nevertheless made a choice not to pursue such charges,” defense lawyer Kevin Keating wrote.
Mangano, a Republican who didn’t seek a third term in November, made the accusation in a bid to have federal conspiracy, bribery, extortion and fraud charges against him dismissed.
He’s accused of accepting a variety of payoffs — including Caribbean vacations, a $7,300 Panerai Luminor watch, a $3,600 massage chair and a $450,000, no-show job for his wife — from restaurant owner Harendra Singh, who’s cooperating with prosecutors.
Singh secretly pleaded guilty in 2016, but a transcript of the proceeding was made public on Jan. 24.
The court papers show Singh saying that he donated and raised money for de Blasio’s campaign so the mayor and other city officials would arrange a lease renewal for his since-shuttered Long Island City restaurant “on terms that were favorable to me.”
On Friday, de Blasio said Singh’s sworn admissions didn’t prove anything, insisting: “What he said happened did not happen, period.”
“When there’s been a full investigation and we’ve answered a thousand times, it’s time to stop talking about it,” he added during his weekly appearance on WNYC radio.
In response to Mangano’s Tuesday filing in Central Islip federal court, prosecutors said there were significant differences between the allegations against him and de Blasio.
“Merely because Singh pleaded guilty to bribing de Blasio using campaign contributions and Mangano using personal enrichments does not make the cases similar either factually or legally,” Assistant US Attorney Lara Treinis Gatz wrote.
A City Hall spokesman likened the comparison to apples and oranges.
“Our administration acted appropriately and the exhaustive review of our actions was closed without further action. Clearly Mr. Mangano’s circumstances are much different,” spokesman Eric Phillips said in a statement.
Mangano, wife Linda and former Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto, who’s charged as a co-defendant, are scheduled for trial in March.
Additional reporting by Yoav Gonan