FILE - In this April 26, 2013, file photo, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, right, and Joseph Percoco, executive deputy secretary, stand at a news conference in Albany, N.Y. Percoco is set to go on trial in New York, Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, on charges that he orchestrated a complicated bribery and extortion scheme involving deep pocketed lobbyists and developers.
FILE - In this April 26, 2013, file photo, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, right, and Joseph Percoco, executive deputy secretary, stand at a news conference in Albany, N.Y. Percoco is set to go on trial in New York, Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, on charges that he orchestrated a complicated bribery and extortion scheme involving deep pocketed lobbyists and developers. Mike Groll, File AP Photo
FILE - In this April 26, 2013, file photo, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, right, and Joseph Percoco, executive deputy secretary, stand at a news conference in Albany, N.Y. Percoco is set to go on trial in New York, Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, on charges that he orchestrated a complicated bribery and extortion scheme involving deep pocketed lobbyists and developers. Mike Groll, File AP Photo

National Business

Jury selection starts at trial of NY governor's ex-aide

The Associated Press

January 22, 2018 02:48 PM

NEW YORK

A longtime aide to New York's governor is being tried on charges he used their relationship to collect bribes from two companies doing business with the state.

Jury selection started Monday in federal court in Manhattan in the trial of Joseph Percoco, a former aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Percoco has pleaded not guilty.

Prospective jurors say they can be fair even after some noticed an anti-corruption demonstration outside the courthouse.

The Democratic governor has not been accused of wrongdoing and is not expected to testify.

The charges against Percoco were brought by former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara (bahr-AHR'-ah), who was fired by Republican President Donald Trump last year along with other federal prosecutors.

The trial will be the first major prosecution supervised by Bharara's interim replacement, Geoffrey Berman.