ALBANY — Joe Bruno, a former leader of the state Senate who was rung up on federal corruption charges, has been urging the White House not to elevate any current federal prosecutors as the next U.S. attorney in the Northern District of New York.
Bruno, 88, made calls to administration officials and also weighed in with the local vetting team that is assisting the White House, four people familiar with his efforts told POLITICO. He had been advocating for Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan, the sources said, hoping to block an in-house successor for U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian, who retired at the end of June. But Hogan is no longer being considered: She was appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on June 19 to the Court of Claims , which hears civil cases against the state and certain public authorities. The post is considered a plum in upstate legal circles.
