By: The Associated Press//November 4, 2010//
NEW YORK CITY — Officials say a longtime adviser to New York’s disgraced former state comptroller has agreed to plead guilty in an influence peddling scandal.
Political consultant Hank Morris was charged last year with using his cozy relationship with comptroller Alan Hevesi to extract millions of dollars in kickbacks from financial firms seeking state investment contracts.
Lawyers for the attorney general’s office and for Morris told a Manhattan judge Thursday that a plea bargain had been reached in the case.
The details of the deal were not made public during the brief hearing.
An attorney general spokesman said the judge declined to consider the plea Thursday, saying it was put before him on too short notice.
Morris’ lawyer did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.