A seemingly permanent end to campaign season and some indictments did not keep Lynn Smith, niece of former State Senator Shirley Huntley, from collecting a paycheck.
Right before her Sept. 13th primary loss, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman charged Ms. Huntley with conspiring to cover up Ms. Smith’s alleged theft of almost $30,000 in taxpayer money through a phony nonprofit. Yet, more than a month after Ms. Huntley’s defeat, campaign records show that Ms. Smith was still paid more than a $1,500.
For her part, Ms. Smith, along with several other Huntley associates, was charged with multiple counts of grand larceny back in December of 2011. According to filings, before she was paid $1589.50 on Oct. 26, she was last paid in October the year before. On Ms. Huntley’s January filing, Ms. Lynn is listed as a “CONSL,” which is short for “consultant,” but her exact role in the campaign is unclear.
Needless to say, the various indictments did not help Ms. Huntley’s electoral fortunes, and she was soundly defeated by then-Councilman James Sanders in the southeastern Queens district.
Ms. Huntley and Ms. Smith have maintained their innocence and pleaded not guilty to the charges. A secretary for Ms. Huntley’s lawyer, Sally Butler, told Politicker that Ms. Butler was “not talking to reporters.”
