Jury selection has begun in the corruption trial of former New York state Senate Republican leader Joseph Bruno.
Once a top power broker in New York, the 80-year-old Bruno is accused of using his position to collect more than $3 million in commissions and gifts in return for using his influence to benefit labor unions and private businessmen.
He has pleaded not guilty and denounced the eight-count January indictment as a politically motivated fishing expedition.
Bruno seized the Senate's majority leadership post in a 1994 overthrow. He retired in July 2008 after serving more than 30 years in the Senate, representing an Albany-area district.
Jury selection began Monday morning in federal court. The trial is expected to last weeks.
Source: AP News
