Preet Bharara’s big mouth wasn’t enough to get corruption charges against a former high-ranking NYPD official tossed out of court on Monday.
Ex-Deputy Inspector James Grant asked to have his indictment dismissed on grounds that Bharara repeatedly made “impermissible and inappropriate” comments about the case while serving as Manhattan US Attorney.
Grant’s lawyer, John Meringolo, claimed in court papers that Bharara violated court rules and US Justice Department regulations by using “subjective, emotive language such as ‘heartbreaking’” while discussing Grant’s arrest.
The defense even sought to muzzle Bharara, now a senior legal analyst for CNN, “to avoid any further prejudice to Mr. Grant.”
But Manhattan federal Judge Gregory Woods rejected the requests, saying Bharara’s remarks “closely track the language in the complaint.”
Grant, ex-Deputy Chief Michael Harrington and Mayor de Blasio donor Jeremy Reichberg are awaiting trial over allegations that the cops did official favors for Reichberg and a cooperating witness, Jona Rechnitz, in exchange for bribes that included jewelry, a luxury watch, lavish dinners and tickets to sporting events.
Grant is also accused of going on an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas with Reichberg, Rechnitz, several other men and a hooker, Gabi Grecko, who in 2016 told The Post how she wore a flight-attendant while engaging in group sex on a private-plane trip to Sin city.
Bharara didn’t return a request for comment.