Prosecutors open to Bruno freedom during appeal

ALBANY - Federal prosecutors say they don't oppose letting former New York Senate leader Joseph Bruno remain free during appeal following U.S. Supreme Court rulings rejecting other convictions for "honest services" fraud.

U.S. District Judge Gary Sharpe, who sentenced Bruno to 2 years in prison, is weighing the retired lawmaker's argument that his two convictions will likely be reversed by a federal appeals court.

The Supreme Court ruled the statute criminalizes only schemes involving bribes or kickbacks.

Defense attorney William Dreyer in a letter to Sharpe says neither were alleged by prosecutors, who claimed taxpayers were denied Bruno's honest services because he concealed outside business interests that benefited from his public post.

- AP