Citing Insufficient Evidence, Judge Dismisses Charges Against State Senator

In March, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman indicted State Senator Robert Ortt (R-Niagara County) for allegedly filing false campaign reports in what Schneiderman said was an illegal scheme to provide his wife with a “no-show job.” (Read my blog post here.)

Albany County Judge Peter Lynch ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support the three counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (Penal Law § 175.35) against Senator Ortt.

He found that the evidence that was presented to the grand jury was “legally insufficient” to support the charges, because “there is nothing in the record to evidence that defendant Ortt personally prepared, signed or filed the disclosure reports.

In a statement, Senator Ortt called the Attorney General a “power hungry, political opportunist.”  Schneiderman’s office said that it disagrees with the decision and is considering its options.

Read the decision here.

Read news coverage from the Buffalo News, the Albany Times Union, Spectrum News, Gannett, and the New York Times.