HOLY HYPOCRISY PART 1

In a week when NYC voters witnessed the perp walk of R-City Councilman Dennis Gallagher, the focus shifts to yet another potential unlawful lawmaker, State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr.

Despite having two gay brothers, the rabidly homophobic Rev. Diaz blames a recent FBI probe on "gay enemies".

Fed probe of Bx. pols turns into family affair
BY BOB KAPPSTATTERDAILY NEWS BRONX BUREAU CHIEF
Friday, March 23rd 2007, 4:00 AM


A Bronx state senator and his assemblyman son are being investigated by the FBI, the Daily News has learned.
Federal agents probing state Sen. Ruben Diaz and his son, Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr., walked into the Bronx office of the city Board of Elections yesterday and slapped officials there with a subpoena, sources said.

The agents seized voter petitions and voter registration records related to the Diazes, and apparently are investigating allegations of voter fraud, the sources said.
Neither Diaz could be reached for comment last night.

The investigation is the latest in a recent string of high-profile criminal probes, indictments and convictions involving Bronx politicians, the largest number since several scandals in the 1980s.
The younger Diaz, considered a popular and energetic politician among his Democratic supporters, has been viewed as a potential candidate for Bronx borough president.
The elder Diaz, who also is a minister, had previously run afoul of authorities for his misappropriation of government funds and his residency.

Under a deal cut with then-state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, Diaz repaid the state $5,000 in 2005 after he improperly used state and federal funds given to the nonprofit Soundview Community in Action group to buy furniture for his district office and loudspeakers for his campaign.

Diaz was previously the $65,000-a-year chief executive of the nonprofit group, and his ex-wife was paid $16,000 a year by the group to be a consultant.
Workers at the nonprofit had accused Spitzer of failing to fully investigate their claims of more widespread misuse of federal aid. They also accused Diaz of forcing workers to toil for his campaign while they were paid by the nonprofit.

In 2004, a constituent backing a political rival sued the elder Diaz in federal court, claiming he did not reside within the 32nd Senate District, covering Soundview, the Bronx.
Federal Judge Richard Berman dismissed the complaint, ruling that the case fell under the purview of Spitzer's office.
But Diaz later admitted to The News that he slept only a couple of nights a month at a rented house in the district and spent the rest of his time with his wife at a home outside the district.
rkappstatter@nydailynews.com