It seems the Joe Percoco trial is all about “The Sopranos” now: His defense wants to bar all future mention of the show-linked term “ziti” on the grounds that it . . . stereotypes Italian-Americans.
The ploy might appeal to the defendant’s old boss, Mario Cuomo, who famously denied the Mafia even existed. But it’s laughable when the word was used to describe payoffs in Percoco’s communications with corrupt-lobbyist-turned-state’s-witness Todd Howe.
Percoco is accused of taking bribes as a top aide to Gov. Cuomo, raking in more than $300,000 in “ziti” — “Sopranos” code for cash — from upstate developers.
Federal Judge Valerie Caproni has turned down the prosecution’s request to show the jury the relevant clip from the show, where Tony Soprano hands a pal “five boxes of ziti” ($5,000) for gambling money.
But that move inspired the defense to try for more. So Caproni asked prosecutors if the testimony would be prejudicial because “you’re linking Mr. Percoco to a gangster.”
Assistant US Attorney Matthew Podolsky’s reply: It was Percoco “who chose to reference his payments using a phrase from a show where they’re talking about proceeds of an illicit gambling ring.”
Yeah: Not the best claim of discrimination ever.