Jury selection starts in trial for ex-Bloomberg consultant

Jury selection began Monday in the trial of a political consultant who allegedly stole more than $1 million from Mayor Michael Bloomberg's re-election campaign in 2009.

John Haggerty, who worked for the campaign, convinced the mayor to give $1.2 million to the state Independence Party for a poll-watching initiative, but then pocketed the majority of the money, prosecutors contend. Bloomberg was the party's top candidate. Haggerty said he earned the money.

During jury selection Monday, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Ronald Zweibel asked prospective jurors if they had any opinions about Bloomberg, who is likely to be called to testify.

Several jurors raised their hands and were dismissed. Some of the released jurors said they were fans of the three-term mayor and could not have been impartial.

(with DNAinfo)