Nassau County Executive Back At Work Day After Federal Indictment
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Ignoring calls to step down, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano was back on the job as promised Friday, a day after his indictment on federal corruption charges.
CBS2 cameras were rolling as Mangano left his home in Bethpage and headed to work Friday morning.
Despite his potential fall from grace, the 54-year-old asked reporters for an update on a cameraman who fell while covering the story Thursday.
EXTRA: Click Here To See The Full Indictment
When he arrived in Mineola, he said, "I'm going to work" before entering the legislative office building, WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs reported.
Mangano, his wife, and Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto are accused of accepting bribes and kickbacks from a restaurant owner. All three have pleaded not guilty.
He released a statement Friday, which read: "While I respect the work that prosecutors perform, the allegations demonstrate a clear lack of connection to the actual facts. In time, the truth will prove I did nothing wrong. As County Executive, I am enormously proud of my record. I believe that there is much more work to be done as Nassau County Executive and I fully intend to continue my work for the betterment of our residents. America is the greatest nation in the world. I ask residents to have faith in my integrity and to put their full belief in the presumption of innocence - an innocence which will be established in open court."
But many Nassau County residents say they are troubled by the charges.
"Anytime that gentleman was suggesting trips or meals or whatever, I think he should have stepped back and declined them," one woman told CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff.
"It goes far deeper, and it's not just Mangano it's the whole crowd," one man said.
Political expert Paul Sabitino predicts there will be fallout in the voting booths.
"It plays into this whole narrative of the entire system is rigged," he said.
Sabitino also thinks it could have long-term effects in the county.
"The concept of what credibility will the municipality have to ask for assistance," he said.
Nassau County Acting District Attorney Madeline Singas is renewing calls for an overhaul of an antiquated oversight system.
"How many more times do we have to look at the newspapers and listen to the scandals that come out of our county? So it's time for meaningful reform so that we can get out of this cesspool of corruption," Singas said.
The defendants are due back in court in December.