Joseph Bruno

Joseph Louis Bruno (born April 8, 1929) is an American businessman, and Republican politician. He was the Temporary President of the New York State Senate and its majority leader. He also served as acting Lieutenant Governor of New York. On June 23, 2008, Bruno announced that he would not seek reelection to the State Senate in 2008. On June 24, 2008, Bruno stepped down from the positions of Senate Majority Leader and "temporary president of the senate", but remained a State Senator. On July 18, 2008, Bruno resigned from the New York State Senate. He represented the 43rd New York State Senate District. On January 23, 2009, Bruno was indicted on eight counts of corruption, including mail and wire fraud. On December 7, 2009, Bruno was convicted of two counts of mail and wire fraud. He was acquitted of five felonies, and the jury hung on the last count. His convictions were subsequently overturned on appeal, but prosecutors retried him. The start of the retrial was postponed and delayed. In May 2013, Bruno's lawyers argued to an appeals court that Bruno should not be retried. On August 6, 2013, a three judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that Bruno's retrial was not barred by the Double Jeopardy Clause and affirmed the District Court's denial of Bruno's motion to dismiss the Government's indictment. Bruno was acquitted of both charges on May 16, 2014.