The bigger their mouths, the harder they fall

From the Daily News:

Queens City Councilman Dan Halloran was out of his district but in his element as he laid out the political facts of life for the man sitting across from him at a Manhattan restaurant.

“You can’t do anything without f-----g money,” the blustery Republican said.

“That’s politics, that’s politics, it’s all about how much,” Halloran said. “Not about whether or will, it’s about how much, and that’s our politicians in New York, they’re all like that, all like that.”

What Halloran didn’t know on Sept. 7, 2012 was that the man he was confiding in was working for the feds — and apparently wearing a wire.

Halloran’s ignorance was clear as he dove into a Devil’s bargain with a confidential witness dangling campaign cash for a congressional bid, court papers revealed.

Halloran emerged from the meeting $7,500 richer, the papers state.

“Money is what greases the wheels — good, bad, or indifferent,” Halloran said.

Twenty days later, it was Halloran’s turn to make good on his promises. And this time an undercover FBI agent posing as a rich real estate developer was in on the Sept. 27, 2012 meeting at a Manhattan hotel.

The G-man came bearing $6,500 in checks for Halloran — and the cooperating witness came with a request for $20,000 from the City Council’s discretionary fund.

“Absolutely, that’s easy, that’s not even an issue, not even an issue,” a clueless Halloran said. “In fact ... I might even be able to get you more.”

Halloran said he could “call in some favors” with other members of the council.

From The Politicker:

“These allegations represent a reprehensible abuse of the public’s trust,” Council Speaker Christine Quinn said in a statement earlier this afternooon. “If true, then the full weight of the legal system should be brought to bear on all parties implicated. The matter will be immediately referred to the Council’s Standards and Ethics Committee.”

Jamie McShane, a spokesman for Council Speaker Christine Quinn, confirmed that the City Council rules committee, as well as council members, will vote to strip Mr. Halloran of his numerous committee assignments. Mr. Halloran will also no longer be able to making funding allocation decisions for his district, which will instead be made by Ms. Quinn’s office in consultation with the Queens Delegation Chair, Councilman Leroy Comrie.