Boyland jury adds alternate, begins deliberations again
Brooklyn Assembly Member William F. Boyland Jr. leaves Federal Court in Brooklyn on March 3, 2014, after closing arguments in his corruption trial. Credit: Anthony Lanzilote
Jurors in the federal political corruption case of Democratic Assemb. William Boyland will have to begin their deliberations all over again Thursday after one member of the panel had to be excused because of vacation plans.
The jury had already deliberated for a full day Wednesday when it became clear that there wouldn't be a verdict, a situation that necessitated replacement of a male juror who had previously disclosed his travel plans to the court.
Brooklyn federal district Judge Sandra Townes replaced the juror with a female alternate. She then told the newly constituted jury panel that they had to start deliberations anew because the alternate had not been part of the previous discussions.
Boyland, 43, who represents a district that includes Brownsville, is on trial on charges he took bribes from undercover FBI agents posing a businessmen, as well as other offenses.
'Democrats say this is a misuse of taxpayer funds' Nassau Republicans awarded over $1 million in taxpayer-funded legal contracts to the one-man law firm of Sheharyar Ali, a longtime GOP ally. Ali's father is an adviser to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa and Newsday Nassau County politics reporter Bahar Ostadan have the story.
'Democrats say this is a misuse of taxpayer funds' Nassau Republicans awarded over $1 million in taxpayer-funded legal contracts to the one-man law firm of Sheharyar Ali, a longtime GOP ally. Ali's father is an adviser to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa and Newsday Nassau County politics reporter Bahar Ostadan have the story.
