A jury found Assemblywoman Diane Gordon (D-40th District) guilty Tuesday of conspiracy and bribery charges related to a deal with a developer in exchange for a house.
The Brooklyn jury convicted Gordon of conspiracy, receiving a bribe, official misconduct and other charges. However, she was acquitted of second-degree bribery. Gordon faces seven years in prison when she's sentenced May 20.
At her trial, videotapes showed Gordon telling developer Ranjan Batheja about her dream home and suggested that he could make it happen. She said, "One hand washes the other." Batheja, who was working with authorities in hopes of improving his standing in an unrelated case, secretly taped his conversations with the lawmaker.Defense attorney Danielle Eaddy unsuccessfully argued that Gordon was naïve and called off the deal, which included helping Batheja gain control of city-owned land in exchange for getting her dream home for $1. According to Eaddy, Gordon was manipulated.
Gordon, who represents parts of Brownsville, Canarsie and East New York, lost her state Assembly seat when she was found guilty. Voters re-elected her to the post after her 2006 indictment. The Board of Elections says voters will have to wait until the November election to select a replacement.