Steve Pigeon

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By his own account, Pigeon worked for NXIVM from 2003 to 2011. [27] Based in Clifton Park, New York, a suburb of Albany, NXIVM purported to be a multi-level marketing company that offered personal and professional development seminars through its "Executive Success Programs" of large-group awareness training. [28]

From its start NXIVM was under a cloud. Its leader Keith Raniere formed the company after his multi-level marketing company, Consumers Buyline, collapsed amid accusations it ran as a pyramid scheme. [29]

Pigeon's work for NXIVM followed the group's recruitment of Sara Bronfman and Clare Bronfman of the wealthy Bronfman family. Their heavy involvement in the company led their father Edgar Bronfman Sr. to comment in an October 2003 Forbes Magazine article that NXIVM was "a cult.". [30] According to the Times Union, NXIVM "developed a reputation for aggressively pursuing critics and defectors who broke from its ranks, including using litigation to punish critics of Raniere, the organization, or its training methods." [31]

Frank Parlato, a former publicist for NXIVM turned adversary wrote, "It was Stone, and political consultant and lawyer, G. Steven Pigeon who got me a consulting job with NXIVM," in September 2007. [32]

In 2009, Sarah and Clare Bronfman brought the 14th Dalai Lama to speak in Albany at an event where Raniere was on the dais. Pigeon was noted as having invited multiple Buffalo notables to the event, including Golisano. [33]

In 2018, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York arrested and indicted several members of NXIVM, including leader Keith Raniere and Clare Bronfman. In May 2018, a search warrant was executed at the home of NXIVM executive (and "Prefect") Nancy Salzman. Along with a hoard of cash were dossiers on "enemies" and prominent individuals; materials concerning Pigeon were included. [34]

Pigeon spoke with Forbes in 2019 about Clare Bronfman and NXIVM following the organization's collapse, and claimed Raniere had manipulated and controlled Clare Bronfman, "hook, line and sinker." [27]

2008 Elections and Responsible New York

Pigeon was the top fundraiser in Western New York for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2008, and later raised money for Barack Obama's campaign. This activity included delivery of $1 million from Tom Golisano on the eve of Obama's nomination, as well as the formation of a political action committee named Responsible New York. [35]

Pigeon and Golisano spoke to several New York media outlets throughout the 2008 campaign season about how they viewed the election and Responsible New York PAC as a vehicle to reshape the New York State legislature. [36]

2009 State Senate leadership crisis

The 2008 elections would drastically change the status quo in New York State. From 1965 until 2008, the New York State Senate had been controlled by Republicans. [37] Democrats were able to win a majority in the 2008 elections. Steve Pigeon's patron Tom Golisano had donated $5 million to the Democrats' campaigns. [38] [39]

Dissatisfaction with the job that Majority Leader Malcolm Smith was doing was growing with his fellow Democrats, as well as with Golisano. [38]

Pigeon, in concert with Tom Golisano, set up a series of private meetings between Republican senators Dean Skelos, Tom Libous, and George D. Maziarz, and rogue Democratic senator Pedro Espada Jr. The first meeting took place at a club in Albany, followed by one at Golisano's house in Rochester, followed by a series at Espada's house in Albany. Espada said that Senator Monserrate was the only one among his fellow Democrats that knew of the meetings. [40]

Roger Stone, Republican strategist and political infighter may have been involved in the discussions, and according to Pigeon, knew about the plan in advance. [40] Golisano, who recently moved to Florida, did not take part in the meetings at Espada's house, but was kept informed by Pigeon. On June 4, Pigeon told Golisano that the deal "was real solid," and on June 8, Golisano was in Albany to watch the events unfold from the Senate chamber balcony. [40]

During the Senate session on June 8, 2009, Republican Senator Thomas Libous proposed a resolution, similar to a motion of no confidence, that would allow for the election of a new leader of the Senate. The entire 32-senator coalition voted for the resolution. After the resolution was passed, but before the vote was recognized by officiating officer, Senator Neil Breslin, Senator Jeffrey Klein moved for adjournment. Libous demanded that his resolution be recognized, but instead Breslin quickly granted Klein's motion for adjournment. Republicans objected, claiming a majority of the Senate did not vote to adjourn. After Breslin declared the meeting adjourned, all but four Democratic senators walked out of the Senate chamber. The Democrats who stayed were Espada and Monserrate, who had voted for the resolution, and Carl Kruger and Ruben Diaz, who abstained from all voting during the course of events but stayed to show their support. [41]

After the 28 Democratic senators walked out of the Senate chamber, Secretary of the Senate Angelo Aponte turned off the lights in the Senate chamber and stopped the TV broadcast of the Senate session. [42] Nevertheless, the remaining senators proceeded to vote for new leadership, removing Democratic Senator Malcolm Smith from his position as Majority Leader and Temporary President of the Senate, and replacing him with two people: Republican Minority Leader Dean Skelos as Majority Leader, and Pedro Espada as Temporary President. [note 1] Historically, the majority leadership and the temporary presidency of the Senate were held by the same person. [43] However, in the new arrangement, Espada was to be the Temporary President of the Senate, while Skelos would become Majority Leader. [44]

Espada spent the remainder of his time in office under the cloud of negative press and investigations by law enforcement. He lost in 2010 to Gustavo Rivera. The following December, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York indicted Espada for six federal counts of embezzlement and theft. Espada vacated office in January 2011 and Steve Pigeon ceased working for the State Senate as well.

The Eastern District of New York convicted Espada in May 2012 and sentenced him to five years in prison.

Erie County Legislature

In 2010 Pigeon was part of a power-play that sacked Democrat Lynn M. Marinelli from the leadership of the Erie County Legislature, delivering it instead to Democrat Barbara Miller-Williams with the connivance of Republicans. The Buffalo News reported the deal as changing the legislature to the liking of Byron Brown, the Erie County Executive Chris Collins, and Tom Golisano. [45]

Controversies

Controversies dogged Pigeon over his entire political career. He was described as "abrasive" at the start of his time as chairman in 1996.; [46] he would still be called "abrasive" in 2016 after his fall from grace. [47] Pigeon accumulated numerous accusations of scandals both local and statewide.

Political controversies

Mr. Pigeon's name has been mentioned in connection with an election scandal in 2007 of the county executive campaign of former West Seneca Supervisor Paul T. Clark. [48]

Assistant Erie County District Attorney Mark Sacha published a complete statement accusing his boss, Frank A. Sedita III, of refusing to prosecute Steve Pigeon for election law violations. [49]

Sam Hoyt's campaign spokesman Jeremy C. Toth filed a complaint [50] against Pigeon and Responsible New York, which he sent to the district attorneys of Erie, Monroe, and Albany counties. Toth hopes that the circumstantial case he makes that Responsible New York staff coordinated its activities with the Barbra Kavanaugh campaign—a felony—will compel the DAs to take a closer look at Pigeon and company. [51]

Erie County's Republican elections commissioner has alleged that former Democratic Chairman G. Steven Pigeon laundered thousands of dollars from Buffalo Sabres owner B. Tom Golisano’s political committee and others in an attempt to conceal the origin and circumvent contribution limits, in violation of state election law. [52]

Pigeon was named as "a key figure" in the 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis that removed the Democratic majority from leadership of the chamber in favor of a Republican minority. Pigeon was counsel for Senator Pedro Espada who, along with embattled Senator Hiram Monserrate, benefitted from the toppling of the Democratic majority. The crisis was reportedly provoked by the displeasure of Pigeon's benefactor Tom Golisano. [53]

In April 2010, Pigeon was linked to a federal probe involving Espada and accusations and tax fraud and money laundering. News reports linked Pigeon to the investigation based on payments made to an Espada-controlled company by a Buffalo-area firm. [54] Espada was subsequently indicted by both the New York State Attorney General and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Espada was convicted in his federal trial 2012 and sentenced to 5 years in prison. [55]

State and Federal Investigations and Guilty Pleas 2015–2018

In spring of 2015, Underberg & Kessler terminated Pigeon's employment at the firm.

On May 28, 2015, state and federal investigators raided Pigeon's Buffalo waterfront house as part of a joint investigation into Pigeon and WNYPC. [56]

On June 30, 2016, New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman indicted Pigeon for bribery, extortion, and 7 other charges for a scheme where Pigeon attempted to gain favors from New York Supreme Court Justice John Michalek. [57] In October 2017, the United States Attorney for the Western District of New York indicted Pigeon on federal charges mirroring these charges. [58]

In addition, on April 19, 2017, the New York State Attorney General indicted Pigeon and two others for illegally coordinating their independent expenditure PAC ("Western New York Progressive Caucus") with several candidates for Erie County Legislature and others starting in 2013. [59]

In September 2018, Pigeon pled guilty to state charges of third-degree bribery in connection to his interactions with former New York Supreme Court Justice John Michalek. [60] The campaign finance charges against Pigeon were dropped following this plea, but Pigeon's two associates (Kristy Mazurek and David Pfaff) pled guilty to misdemeanor charges directly dealing with Western New York Progressive Caucus indictment. [61]

In the federal case, Pigeon pled guilty to a Superseding Information as part of a plea agreement on October 9, 2018, accepting responsibility for participation in a conspiracy to defraud the United States, in connection to soliciting an illegal $25,000 campaign donation from a foreign national and then disguising the transaction. [62] [63]

In November 2018, the Grievance Committee of the Eighth Judicial District struck Pigeon from the rolls of attorneys licensed to practice in the state of New York. [64]

2021 Indictment in Erie County

On December 1, 2021, the Buffalo News reported that the Erie County District Attorney investigated Pigeon for allegedly molesting a child. Pigeon denied the underlying accusations to the Buffalo News. [11]

The following day, Pigeon surrendered at a New York State Police barracks, and his arraignment was held in Erie County Supreme Court. The unsealed indictment charges Pigeon with five felonies and one misdemeanor: rape in the first degree; predatory sexual assault against a child; criminal sexual act in the first degree; sexual abuse in the first degree; endangering the welfare of a child. If convicted, Pigeon faces a maximum penalty of 25 years to life imprisonment. [10]

Pigeon entered a plea of not guilty to all charges at arraignment . [12] Prosecutors requested remand and this was initially granted. Pigeon was held as an inmate at the Erie County Holding Center. Speaking with press after the arraignment, Erie County District Attorney's Erie County District Attorney John Flynn opined that remand was justified due to the violent nature of Pigeon's alleged crimes, Pigeon's lack of a permanent home in the Buffalo area, as well as his attempts to contact the family of his accuser. [65] [12]

On December 6, 2021, Pigeon appeared before Supreme Court Judge William Boller for a bail hearing. Against the wishes of the District Attorney for continued remand, Judge Boller set bail at $250,000 cash or $500,000 secured bond or $750,000 partially secured bond. [66] That evening, defense attorney Paul Cambria indicated Pigeon had left jail. [67] The Erie County case has identifier IND-70921-21 in the New York State Unified Court System's WebCriminal database. As of July 2022 the case is in pre-trial conferences. [6]

Notes

  1. ↑ The position is named "temporary" because the Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the State Senate, while the Temporary President is chosen by the senators. It is common, especially in the newsmedia, for the terms "temporary president", "president pro tempore", or "Senate president" to be used synonymously. In addition, the legal terminology has changed as the New York Constitution was changed. For more, see Majority Leader of the New York State Senate.

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  2. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (July 13, 2009). "After the coup, Pigeon resented as 'hired gun'". The Buffalo News . Archived from the original on July 16, 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  3. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (30 June 2016). "Looking back at the rise and fall of political operative Steve Pigeon". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
  4. 1 2 Becker, Maki (27 July 2022). "Steve Pigeon sentenced to four months in prison over illegal political donation". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
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  6. 1 2 3 "Website Authorization". iapps.courts.state.ny.us. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
  7. ↑ "Superseding Information" (PDF), United States of America v. G. Steven Pigeon (Court Filing), no. 1:17-cr-00190, Docket 42, W.D.N.Y., 2018-10-09, retrieved 2022-07-24– via Recap ( PACER current docket view Lock-red-alt.svg)
  8. ↑ "Plea Agreement" (PDF), United States of America v. G. Steven Pigeon (Court Filing), no. 1:17-cr-00190, Docket 43, W.D.N.Y., 2018-10-09, retrieved 2022-07-24– via Recap ( PACER current docket view Lock-red-alt.svg)
  9. ↑ "Sentencing Memorandum" (PDF), United States of America v. G. Steven Pigeon (Court Filing), no. 1:17-cr-190, Docket 109, W.D.N.Y., 2022-07-27, retrieved 2022-07-27– via Recap ( PACER current docket view Lock-red-alt.svg)
  10. 1 2 "Former Political Party Chairman Indicted for Sexually Assaulting a Child | Erie County District Attorney's Office". Erie County District Attorney's Office. 2021-12-02. Archived from the original on 2021-12-02. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
  11. 1 2 Herbeck, Dan (December 2021). "Sources: Political operative Steve Pigeon to face charges of molesting a girl". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
  12. 1 2 3 "Former Erie County Democratic Chairman Steve Pigeon arraigned on six charges, including rape". News 4 Buffalo. 2021-12-02. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
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  15. ↑ "'You took away practically my entire childhood': Victim faces Steven Pigeon as he is sentenced to 1 year for child sex abuse". Buffalo News. 22 December 2023.
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  26. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (Nov 15, 1998). "PIGEON SETS SIGHTS ON STATE CHAIRMANSHIP". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, NY. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
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  28. ↑ Shea, Courtney (February 8, 2019). "How Nxivm Targeted Women". Chatelaine. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
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  31. ↑ Lyons, Brendan J. (September 24, 2018). "FBI shifts mountain of data in NXIVM's seized computers". Times Union.
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  33. ↑ Kelly, Geoff (May 22, 2009), "Odds & Ends", Artvoice, retrieved January 26, 2024
  34. ↑ Gavin, Robert (May 14, 2019). "NXIVM's files on 'enemies' debated in court". Albany Times Union. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  35. ↑ Hakim, Danny (August 18, 2008). "Democrats Get Big Gift for Denver". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  36. ↑ Confessore, Nicholas (July 9, 2008). "Golisano Aims Millions at N.Y. Legislative Races". New York Times. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  37. ↑ Confessore, Nicholas; Hakim, Danny (November 5, 2008). "Democrats Are Poised to Control Albany". The New York Times . Retrieved July 10, 2009.
  38. 1 2 Peters, Jeremy W.; Hakim, Danny (June 8, 2009). "Republicans Seize Control of State Senate". The New York Times . Archived from the original on June 12, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
  39. ↑ Fund, John (June 20, 2009). "New York's Cleansing Coup". The Wall Street Journal . Archived from the original on July 24, 2009. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
  40. 1 2 3 Hakim, Danny; Confessore, Nicholas (June 9, 2009). "Feeling Slighted, Rich Patron Led Albany Revolt". The New York Times . Retrieved July 8, 2009.
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  42. ↑ Blain, Glenn; Lovett, Kenneth (June 9, 2009). "State Senate plotters targeting a loyal Malcolm Smith ally: Angelo Aponte". Daily News . Archived from the original on June 14, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
  43. ↑ Odato, James (June 8, 2009). "Two Democrats join Republicans to topple Smith as Senate leader". Times Union . Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
  44. ↑ Hakim, Danny; Peters, Jeremy W. (June 8, 2009). "G.O.P. Regains Control of New York State Senate". The New York Times . Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
  45. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (Jan 17, 2010). "Collins, Brown, Pigeon solidify positions". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022. Miller-Williams' ascension speaks to the mutual political aims of Collins and Mayor Byron W. Brown, while underscoring the influence of political insider G. Steven Pigeon with both.
  46. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (1 May 1996). "GORSKI SUPPORTERS ARE DIVIDED ABOUT HIS BACKING FOR PIGEON". Buffalo News. Retrieved 23 January 2022. I think Steve will be a strong chairman. He wakes up in the morning thinking government and Democratic politics, and he goes to bed at night thinking the same thing," the Gorski source said. "He can be rather abrasive, but I've seen him change. He'll be fine.
  47. ↑ Ryan Whalen (July 1, 2016). "Past Rivals of Steve Pigeon Say This Week Was a Long Time Coming". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 23 January 2022. About four years into his tenure, Pigeon's abrasive style of politics had worn thin with some committee members.
  48. ↑ Robert J. McCarthy; Michael Beebe (9 October 2009). "Sedita can act on Pigeon case, some prosecutors say". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on 9 October 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  49. ↑ Mark Sacha On District Attorney’s Failure To Prosecute Steve Pigeon Archived 2009-10-01 at the Wayback Machine , 2009.
  50. ↑ Responsible New York - Complaint Archived 2011-10-09 at the Wayback Machine , 2009.
  51. ↑ Chasing Pigeon: Past Is Prologue Archived 2009-10-12 at the Wayback Machine , 2009.
  52. ↑ GOP official accuses Pigeon of laundering money from Golisano, 2009.
  53. ↑ Feeling Slighted, Rich Patron Led Albany Revolt
  54. ↑ Espada probe includes Pigeon, 2010.
  55. ↑ Disgraced ex-Sen. Espada Jr. gets 5 years in prison
  56. ↑ Sondel, Justin (September 1, 2017). "The rise and fall of Steve Pigeon". City and State New York. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  57. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (June 30, 2016). "Political operative G. Steven Pigeon indicted on bribery, extortion and 7 other charges". The Buffalo News . Archived from the original on July 1, 2016.
  58. ↑ "Pigeon's alleged bribery of judge included Obama campaign job". WKBW-TV . October 6, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  59. ↑ Office of Attorney General (19 April 2017). "A.G. Schneiderman Announces Felony Charges Against Steve Pigeon, Kristy Mazurek, And David Pfaff". ag.ny.gov. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  60. ↑ Streich, Christine (Sep 28, 2018). "Political operative admits to bribing judge". WKBW-TV . Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  61. ↑ Attorney General of New York (20 November 2018). "A.G. Underwood Announces Guilty Pleas Of Kristy Mazurek And David Pfaff". ag.ny.gov. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  62. ↑ "SUPERSEDING INFORMATION as to G. Steven Pigeon (1) count(s) 1s. (KLH) (Entered: 10/12/2018), United States v. Pigeon. Document #42. District Court, W.D. New York. Docket Number: 1:17-cr-00190". CourtListener. October 9, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  63. ↑ "PLEA AGREEMENT as to G. Steven Pigeon. (KLH) (Entered: 10/12/2018). United States v. Pigeon. Document #43. District Court, W.D. New York. Docket Number: 1:17-cr-00190". CourtListener. October 9, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  64. ↑ In the Matter of G. Steven Pigeon, a Disbarred Attorney, Respondent. Grievance Committee of the Eighth Judicial District, Petitioner., New York State Law Reporting Bureau2018 NY Slip Op 07636 [166 AD3d 1542 ](New York State Appellate Division, Fourth DepartmentNovember 9, 2018)("Order entered, pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90 (4) (b), striking respondent's name from the roll of attorneys, effective September 28, 2018.").
  65. ↑ Watch Now: DA John Flynn on charges against Steven Pigeon, 2 December 2021, retrieved 2022-07-31
  66. ↑ "Judge sets bail for Steve Pigeon". wgrz.com. December 6, 2021. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
  67. ↑ "Steve Pigeon out on bail". wgrz.com. December 6, 2021. Retrieved 2022-07-31.

Sources

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G. Steven "Steve" Pigeon
Chairman of the Erie County
Democratic Party
In office
1996–2002