Grand jury subpoenas ethics panel records

In a sign that its investigation into the Suffolk Ethics Commission is intensifying, the district attorney's office has issued grand jury subpoenas for records related to two cases handled by the commission.

Craig Tortora, one of three ethics commissioners, said the subpoenas sent last week to the commission sought records for one pending case and one that has been concluded. He did not identify the cases. He also said that he and the other commissioners, Thomas Nolan and Joseph Laria, had been questioned by the district attorney's office.

"We've all been questioned. As far as I know, we've all cooperated," he said.

While Tortora said he did not know the thrust of the investigation, some county legislators have publicly questioned whether County Executive Steve Levy has wielded undue influence over the commission's actions.

In March, the district attorney's office requested records and security video related to a legislative investigation into the commission. In addition, Newsday has reported that both District Attorney Thomas Spota and Suffolk Comptroller Joseph Sawicki are reviewing time sheets filed by the commission's executive director, Alfred Lama.

Levy spokesman Dan Aug did not return a call for comment Monday. Robert Clifford, a spokesman for Spota, declined to comment. Lama was not available to comment.

The cases for which records were subpoenaed involve Paul Sabatino, Levy's former chief deputy county executive, and Legis. Edward Romaine (R-Center Moriches).

Sabatino said he received a subpoena for records related to his case, which is pending. The commission has scheduled a hearing on his case for Wednesday.

Sabatino, once a close ally of Levy, left the county in December 2007 after frequent clashes with the county executive. The complaint against him charges that he violated county law when he went to work as a consultant for the Association of Municipal Employees, a public union. County law bars for two years former county employees from working on matters that were pending before them at the time they left the county.

The complaint also charged that Sabatino violated county law by appearing before the Newsday editorial board and acting as a character witness for a county employee.

Sabatino said none of his actions violated the law.

Sources told Newsday that the other subpoena was for records from Romaine, whose case before the Ethics Commission has been concluded. Romaine declined to speak about his case.

His case revolved around his wife, a housekeeper at the county nursing home. Levy administration officials said Romaine could not vote on any nursing home issue before the legislature because his wife's job created a conflict of interest. The commission concluded Romaine's case with no findings against him, said his attorney, Anton Borovina.

About the ethics commission

The Suffolk County Ethics Commission is an independent body composed of three members who serve without pay. It reviews annual financial disclosure forms filed by roughly 650 county employees and handles complaints alleging violations of the ethics code. By law, its proceedings are confidential. The commission's executive director, who is a paid county employee, submits an annual report about the commission's activities to the county Legislature.