Hearing held in Bruno corruption case

ALBANY - The corruption trial of former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno is now one week away.

Lawyers for the two sides were in federal court Monday to work out last minute details and move along the selection of jurors.

Even though Bruno is one of the best known politicians in the region, the judge and the two teams of lawyers are having little problem identifying likely jurors. They expect to choose 12 panelists and four alternates in less than a day next Monday and then begin testimony to decide the future of the 80-year-old former state senator.

Like every other defendant represented by competent counsel, Bruno has been severely cautioned against speaking outside of the courtroom. He doesn't like it.

"My counsel is telling me not to speak about what the proceedings are. And I think a lot has been said already and the rest will become a matter of record and public record. You know, I've done nothing wrong and I'm looking forward to proving that here with due process," Bruno said.

Bruno had been on a public relations campaign this year, making appearances even though he's no longer in elected office and reminding potential jurors of all the taxpayer-paid projects he's brought to the Capital Region.

He needs all the good will he can muster because the government plans to portray Bruno as a politician who used his office and his power to make millions without properly disclosing it.

"I think (the prosecution) are defensive about how long this investigation has occurred, three years. I think they're defensive about how much resources they've put into it, millions. I think they're defensive about how many witnesses they've spoken to, hundreds. And I understand why they're defensive because if you have to spend that much effort and this is the charges, I understand why they would be," said Bruno's attorney, Abbe Lowell.

There are more than 100 potential witnesses listed. Lawyers have estimated the trial may take six weeks.

Judge Gary Sharpe is projecting a no-nonsense attitude. He says he won't be surprised if they take only a week and a half.