FBI: Anti-gay New York pol used secret boyfriend to launder bribes

The FBI charges that an anti-gay, closeted New York state senator used his secret, live-in boyfriend to launder the bribes he received.

Sen. Carl Kruger, D-Brooklyn, turned himself into the FBI on March 10, reported the New York Post under the headline “Bribe & Groom.” Kruger faces corruption charges for allegedly trading political favors for more than $1 million in bribes over a five-year period.

Kruger’s arrest was part of a sweeping pay-to-play investigation that has resulted in the arrest of eight men. His boyfriend, gynecologist Michael Turano, is charged with laundering Kruger’s bribes.

The Post reported: “Kruger’s constant companion, Turano, is accused of using bribe money he deposited in two shell companies for Kruger to pay the lease on a Bentley luxury sedan, credit-card bills and the mortgage on the garish, multimillion-dollar Mill Basin home where the two men for years have shacked up with Turano’s mom and brother, authorities and neighbors said.

“Sen. Kruger had a close and intimate relationship with the entire Turano family, which includes one of the defendants, Michael Turano, along with his mother and brother,’ U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara told reporters yesterday.

“A press release from Bharara’s office noted, ‘(Kruger) spent his free time with the Turanos, shared holidays with them, went shopping for them, and managed the affairs of their residence.’

“Kruger was closest with Michael Turano. The two men were in nearly daily contact, Kruger picked Turano up from work, and people even called Kruger’s cellphone in order to reach Turano,” Bharara noted. A source close to the investigation told The Post that Kruger – who voted against a state gay-marriage bill last year – was particularly ‘intimate’ with Michael Turano.”

Although Kruger lived at the Mill Basin mansion, his registered address was in his senate district in Brooklyn.