Jona Rechnitz took the stand today in Manhattan federal court. He was there to testify in the bribery trial of former city corrections-union chief Norman Seabrook. Unfortunately for liberal Mayor Bill de Blasio, the first of Rechnitz’ testimony hit home, namely city hall.

The former donor described in detail how easy it was for him and his friends to “buy off City Hall and One Police Plaza. The pay to play schemes involved Mayor de Blasio, Norman Seabrook, the NYPD, and Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.

Rechnitz stated that he and friend Jeremy Reichberg first targeted the NYPD. They exchanged gifts and money for favors. Soon, he said, “We had the police going for us — and now it was time to get into politics.”

Man Tied To NYPD Corruption Probe Blames Jona Rechnitz For Ponzi Scheme https://t.co/wO3MqnyR6v — T.O.T Consulting (@TOTPINYC) September 10, 2017

Rechnitz says that in 2013, after de Blasio won the Democratic primary, Reichberg and Fernando Mateo, president of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, made the rules clear to de Blasio’s fundraiser Ross Offinger;

“We’re going to be significant contributors, but we want access. When we call, we want answers. We’re one group, and we expect a lot of access and influence.”



Rechnitz says they got what they wanted. De Blasio visited the man at his office and handed over a personal cell phone number and an email address. “He said, ‘Keep in touch’ and [that] he really appreciated my friendship,” Rechnitz said.



The testimony then laid out the details. He says he would call the mayor once a week. Rechnitz would speak with Offinger whenever there was a problem to be fixed. He asked for help with a friend’s large water bill, subletting a residence on Airbnb, and a request to delay closing Rechnitz’ wife’s school by a month. It is still unclear if any of those requests were met.

Besides de Blasio, much of the city hierarchy was affected by the testimony. If Rechnitz is to be believed, a lot of people could lose everything by the time this trial is over, including the mayor.

Source: New York Post