“FBI arrests State Senator Malcolm Smith, Daniel Halloran, and others following public corruption investigation. Details to follow. #NYC,” reads a tweet by NewYorkFBI on Tuesday morning.
The FBI arrested Smith and Halloran Tuesday on the charge that they were part of a plot to buy Smith, a democrat who became a republican last year, a republican ballot spot for the upcoming 2013 NYC mayoral election, according to the daily news.
Three out of the five borough party leaders must support a non-republican candidate in order for him or her to run on a GOP ballot line for the mayoral election. While Smith never actually made his run for Mayor, some of the bribes were allegedly taken to secure his GOP support.
Four others, including Bronx Republican Chairman Jay Savino and Queens GOP vice chairman Vincent Tabone, were also taken into custody as they were to receive the bribes.
Halloran was arrested for acting as Smith’s liaison, hiding and arranging bribes within consultant’s contracts, according to the Huffington post.
The FBI will hold a press conference today at 11:00 a.m. to release more details about the case.