Law Partner's Wife Testifies That Senator's Son Was Drunk At Party Before Starting Job
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Before even spending a day on the job, a state senator's son was falling down drunk at a law firm's Christmas party, a woman testified Wednesday.
State Sen. Thomas Libous, the second-highest ranking Republican in the Senate, is on trial for allegedly lying to the FBI repeatedly when he denied making a corrupt deal to get his son Matthew a high-paying job with the law firm.
Lisa Santangelo, the wife of one of the law partners, testified against Libous, saying his son was no prize for the firm, WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported.
She testified that she first met Matthew Libous at the Christmas party in 2005. She said she was on crutches after breaking her leg.
As a partner's wife, she said she received a lot of respect, but not from Matthew Libous. She said he was drunk and acting like a clown.
"He was hitting on me," Santangelo said.
Matthew Libous' condition was the talk of the party, but despite her discomfort, the law firm was very tolerant of the senator's son, Santangelo testified.
In his opening statement Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Allee alleged that Libous, R-Binghamton, told the law firm's partners that if they hired his son, he would steer so much business their way "they could build a new wing on their office."
Libous' attorney, however, derided the government's case, claiming there is no recording of what Libous told the FBI and noting there are no charges beyond the accusations of false statements.
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