Hevesi on hot seat over chauffer

Another Queens politician made headlines this week when the New York State Ethics Commission ruled that State Comptroller Alan Hevesi owed money in arrears for the use of a government worker to drive his wife - allegedly for more than three years.
According to the commission's stunning 29-page report, which has been sent to the Legislature, Hevesi when forced to repay his debt after it came to light in September, paid a total of $82,688.82 - a sum the commission claims is &#8220based in its entirety on the recollection and rough estimates” of the chauffeur, Nick Acquafredda.
The report further alleges that Hevesi's lack of bookkeeping &#8220suggests that Mr. Hevesi did not intend to reimburse the state.”
On his website, Hevesi issued the following statement in response to the Commission findings:
&#8220While I obviously do not agree with all of the Ethics Commission’s conclusions, given the facts in my referral to the Commission, its sending the matter to the Legislature was expected and is understandable.
&#8220I made a mistake. I am deeply sorry. I offer no excuses. I will continue to cooperate fully with any inquiry. I ask New Yorkers for their understanding and hope they will judge me on the basis of my performance as Comptroller and my 35-year record of public service.”
Claiming his wife Carol had been threatened, Hevesi allegedly asked for a ruling on whether he could hire a state-provided driver in 2003.
At the time of his request, a chauffeur had already been procured - a fact he allegedly failed to report to the Commission.
In addition, when it was found that a driver was not, in fact, necessary, Hevesi kept the services.
Acquafredda was allegedly employed during Hevesi's tenure as City Comptroller and worked up to five-days-a-week driving the politician's wife to appointments in the family's personal car.
The Albany District Attorney is currently investigating the matter, and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has said that he will launch a probe to determine exactly how much Hevesi - who has retained the services of Manhattan-based defense lawyer Joel Cohen - owes the state.