Hank Morris on his way out of prison

From the NY Post:

Hank Morris -- a top political adviser to disgraced ex-state Comptroller Alan Hevesi imprisoned in a pay-to-play pension fund scam – was granted parole in his fourth bid for freedom, state officials said today.

Morris had served 26 months behind bars after pleading guilty to securities fraud, admitting he used his connections to Hevesi to get millions of dollars for himself form firms seeking state pension fund business.

The state Parole Board approved Morris’ release in a decision on Monday after a state judge ordered a new hearing after claiming the board had unfairly held up the convict’s release by “inexplicably” failing to consider evidence in Morris’ favor.

Morris, 59, could be released June 3 or sooner.

Hank Morris calls for reform

From the Daily News:

Hank Morris, disgraced ex-Controller Alan Hevesi’s longtime political consultant, was sent away for masking his role as ringleader in a state pension fund pay-to-play scandal. But he also was charged with arranging campaign donations for Hevesi from firms in exchange for fund business.

As he argued unsuccessfully for his freedom at a recent hearing before the state parole board, Morris said political campaigns should be publicly financed.

“I believe that if you’re doing business with the state government or any government, you shouldn’t be allowed to make political contributions regarding that government,” he said, according to a transcript.

Morris insisted that while some firms he did business with donated to Hevesi, it was not done with promises of access to the pension fund. And he said the same still a the situation was no different than what still goes on.

“The highest officials in the state right now have millions of dollars sitting in their campaign accounts from government, state contractors, city contractors, etc.,” he said. “Would it be better to have a different system? Absolutely.”

Hevesi to be sprung from prison soon

From the Daily News:

Disgraced former state Controller Alan Hevesi will be out of prison for the holidays, the Daily News has learned.

A state Parole Board panel approved Hevesi’s second attempt at parole after a Wednesday hearing, a source familiar with the situation said.

Now known as inmate 11-R-1334, the 72-year-old Hevesi will be back home by Dec. 19.

The former pol was denied his first shot at parole last December by a 2-to-1 vote of a Parole Board panel. In keeping him locked up, the majority cited his “shallow” attempt at accepting blame.

Andrew Hevesi said his father this time accepted full responsibility during the hearing.

Hevesi said his father also took responsibility “for several life-long patterns that have hurt his family and friends that are unrelated to what happened in the controller’s office."

His crony, Hank Morris, was denied parole.

Hank Morris denied parole

From the Daily News:

The mastermind behind the state's biggest ever pay-to-play pension fund scandal was denied parole.

Hank Morris, the scandal ringleader and former political svengali for disgraced ex-Controller Alan Hevesi, will remain behind bars for at least another year.

Morris is serving up to four years in prison after pleading guilty to a single felony for securities fraud in a kickback scheme that netted him $19 million.

A three-person state parole panel after, interviewing Morris Wednesday, found his release from prison “is not consistent with the public safety and welfare of the community.”

The panel indicated that if Morris hits the streets, “there is a reasonable probability” he would again violate the law.

Morris apparently was well aware that his former friend Hevesi, who is serving up to four years for his role in the scandal at a different prison, was previously denied parole for not showing enough remorse.

According to a hearing transcript, Morris repeatedly said he was not trying to minimize what he had done as he tried to explain his actions.

That led one frustrated parole board member to snap: “you’ve made it clear. You’ve made it clear. You don’t have to keep saying that.”