Six-year-old federal slush-fund probe is still costing New York City taxpayers

• By SALLY GOLDENBERG
• Last Updated: 5:00 AM, April 1, 2013
• Posted: 12:35 AM, April 1, 2013

The 6-year-old federal slush-fund probe into the City Council is still costing taxpayers, The Post has learned.
The council paid $10,430 in September to the white-collar law firm Steptoe & Johnson — part of an $83,000 contract, according to a review of council spending.
A council source said money was spent on the trial of former Councilman Larry Seabrook, who was sentenced in January to five years in prison for stealing public money.
The council has spent $513,868 with four law firms since the feds launched their investigation.
Speaker Christine Quinn — a leading Democratic contender for mayor — has been cleared of any wrongdoing in a probe of a longstanding practice of stashing council funds in phantom accounts to later be doled out to pet projects.

Getty Images     Christine Quinn

But the investigation mushroomed into a broader look at misspending. Along with Seabrook, two former members — Hiram Monserrate and Miguel Martinez — and two former council staffers have been charged in the scandal.