Assemblywoman convicted of corruption

Being indicted for bribery and conspiracy might have sent Democratic state Assemblywoman Diane Gordon to the doghouse in the eyes of her Brownsville constituents in 2006. But, later this year, she might move to the Big House.

A Brooklyn jury Tuesday convicted Gordon, 58, of third-degree bribe-receiving, a similar charge for state legislators and official misconduct. A judge could sentence her to as many as 10 years in prison at a hearing next month.

For now, Gordon's seat will remain vacant until after the November election. (The New York State Assembly quickly removed her page from its Web site, and I updated my list of Brooklyn incumbents below.) According to The New York Sun, Inez Barron, wife of City Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brownsville), and Democratic District Leader Earl Williams might run for Gordon's seat.

Back in 2006, The Daily Politics uploaded video (below) that was part of the Brooklyn district attorney's evidence that Gordon solicited bribes from a developer interested in buying land in her district. This week, Gordon's lawyers continued making their argument that the legislator was a victim of entrapment.



Photo of now-former Assemblywoman Diane Gordon distributed by the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office through the Associated Press