The last week of any legislative session is a confusing mélange of heated debates, intense lobbying, plus partisan and personal bickering. This year the final week looked like something out of a tabloid "news of the weird." All thanks to the sad saga of State Sen. Louis DeLuca (R-Woodbury), the Minority Leader in the Senate.

When DeLuca's press secretary Brett Cody told the media on June 1st he had something important to reveal about his 73-year old boss, reporters feared some kind of health crisis. Instead, Cody announced DeLuca had been arrested! The charge? Conspiracy to commit threatening. Another person allegedly involved in the scheme was James Galante, now under federal indictment for charges tied to a probe of the trash hauling industry with alleged links to organized crime.

In a written statement, DeLuca said he went to Galante for help because DeLuca feared his granddaughter was in "a physically abusive domestic relationship." Claiming that local police would not intervene because DeLuca's relative would not file a formal complaint, DeLuca turned to Galante, who he said he knew as a businessman. In his statement, DeLuca said Galante "agreed to have someone meet" with the person victimizing his granddaughter.

However, arrest documents allege informants told authorities the target "should be bitch slapped, meaning that the target should be physically assaulted." Suffice it to say, the scenario began to look more like "The Sopranos" than legislative business.

DeLuca said he acted out of concern for his family, never intended violence, and ultimately determined his meeting with Galante was "a terrible situation."

On June 4th, DeLuca pleaded guilty to the threatening charge and was a given six-month suspended sentence, a $2000 fine, and ordered to avoid all contact with Galante.

Hours later, DeLuca was back in the Senate. Appearing contrite, with his voice quavering at times, DeLuca seemed worlds apart from the feisty confident legislative leader most Capitol denizens know. His troubles are not over.

Arrest documents and comments from federal and state prosecutors provide other disturbing details. After learning of DeLuca's contacts with Galante, the feds set up a sting, sending an undercover FBI agent to pose as a Galante associate in a meeting with DeLuca. The agent attempted to see if DeLuca would accept a $5000 bribe to use his legislative clout to help Galante block new garbage industry regulations.

Arrest documents indicate DeLuca wouldn't bite, but indicated that he would keep his "eyes open" and do whatever he could to "blunt it as best I can" if troublesome legislation surfaced. The feds concluded DeLuca had a "close and confidential relationship" with Galante even though he believed the trash hauler was "on the fringes" of organized crime.

Most lawmakers shook their heads and said they understood DeLuca tried to help his granddaughter, but some are concerned about the senator's relationship with Galante and how it reflects on his legislative duties. A few called for his resignation.

On June 7th, the day after legislative adjournment, DeLuca held a press conference at the State Capitol and said upfront he has no intention of resigning as a state senator. He did say that in the near future, he will meet with the 11 other Republican senators to determine if he keeps his post as GOP Senate leader or steps down from that role.

At the press conference, DeLuca alternated between his old feisty personality and that of a chastened politician who knows his reputation and career are on the line. DeLuca told reporters he had been naïve, stupid, scared and irrational in his adventure with Galante and the feds. However, DeLuca maintains his actions were that of "an angry grandfather" not a crook. "I was in a situation and I screwed up," said              the senator, but he added: "I never abused my office. I have always had respect for this institution (the legislature)."

In a state rocked many times by corruption scandals in recent years, only time will tell if the public and DeLuca's fellow pols forgive and forget, or tell the Woodbury senator it's time for retirement. (On June 13th, Sen. DeLuca voluntarily stepped down from his post as State Senate Minority Leader. The new GOP leader was chosen the next day. He is Fairfield Republican Sen. John McKinney.)
 

Posted 6/11/07

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