'Pay to play' paid off for him
Former Liberal Party chairman Ray Harding Credit: Marc A. Hermann
What is it about Hardings in politics?
Warren G., often called America's worst president, surrounded himself with cronies and crooks in the White House.
Russell A. (no relation that we know of), was sent to prison for embezzling more than $400,000 as president of the New York City Housing Development Corp. in the Giuliani administration.
And then there's Russell's father, Raymond B. Harding.
A fixture in New York politics for 30 years, the former Liberal Party chief took $800,000 as part of a scheme to steer state pension money to eager fund managers. Supposedly the elder Harding wanted the money to pay legal fees for his son, who was also found in possession of child pornography.
Ever the savvy insider, Harding chose to cooperate with authorities at an opportune moment in their "pay to play" investigation, and as a result of his assistance was allowed to plead to a lesser charge.
That's understandable; the same investigation toppled State Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who got one to four years behind bars. Harding, who had a lot of pull in his heyday, had also helped open up an Assembly seat in Queens for Hevesi's son, Andrew.
At sentencing Wednesday, Harding got off easy, avoiding prison thanks to his help for prosecutors (as well as his own ill health).
What's shocking is that he got to keep all that money. Cooperation often pays, but who knew it could be so rewarding?
