Mario Biaggi
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| Mario Biaggi | |
| Preceded by | Paul A. Fino |
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| Succeeded by | Eliot L. Engel |
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| Born | October 26, 1917 New York, New York, USA |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Bronx, New York |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Mario Biaggi (born October 26, 1917) is a former American politician.
The most decorated police officer in the United States by the time he retired from the New York City Police Department, Biaggi later became a senior partner in a law firm in his native New York City.
In 1968, Biaggi ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat and won easily in his district, located in overwhelmingly Democratic Bronx County. He was re-elected the next nine succeeding Congresses and served until his resignation on August 5, 1988, after federal convictions for corruption involving, among other things, the Wedtech Corporation. [1]
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[edit] Years Prior to Congress
Biaggi graduated from P.S. 171 and Haaren High School in Manhattan. He received a law degree from New York Law School in 1963. He was a senior partner in the law firm of Biaggi, Ehrich & Lang in New York. He served as community relations specialist with the New York State Division of Housing and assistant to the secretary of state of New York State from 1961 to 1965. Biaggi was a member of the New York City Police Department from 1942 to 1965 and retired on line of duty disability as lieutenant, holding the police department’s medal of honor plus twenty-seven other decorations. He also was the recipient of the Medal of Honor for Valor from National Police Officers Association of America, and is included in Association’s Hall of Fame. He was elected president of the National Police Officers Association of America in 1967
[edit] Congressional Years
In 1968, Biaggi ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat and won easily in his district, located in overwhelmingly Democratic Bronx County. He was re-elected the next nine succeeding Congresses, and served until his resignation in August of 1988 after federal convictions for corruption.
Highly popular in the Bronx, Biaggi sponsored legislation led to the banning of "cop-killer" bullets in the U.S. and he later spearheaded the bill responsible for the construction of the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
He was also involved in the issue of Northern Ireland, and was chairman of a Congressional task force to stop the violence in Northern Ireland.
[edit] Corruption Convictions
Biaggi was sentenced to two-and-a-half years and fined $500,000 for accepting an illegal gratuity and obstructing justice in 1987. He had accepted free vacations from former Brooklyn Democratic leader Meade Esposito in exchange for using his influence to help a ship-repair company that was a major client of Esposito's insurance agency. The House Ethics Committee recommended that Biaggi be expelled--the most severe of penalties. [2]
In 1988, Biaggi was forced to resign his seat after he was convicted a second time in federal court of 15 felony counts for obstruction of justice and accepting illegal gratuities, stemming from Biaggi's acceptance of bribes in exchange for federal construction contracts in the so-called Wedtech scandal. He was an unsuccessful candidate in 1992 for nomination to the One Hundred Third Congress.
[edit] References
- ^ http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000432
- ^ http://www.congressionalbadboys.com/Biaggi.htm
| Preceded by Paul A. Fino |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 24th congressional district 1969–1973 |
Succeeded by Ogden R. Reid |
| Preceded by Emanuel Celler |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 10th congressional district 1973–1983 |
Succeeded by Charles E. Schumer |
| Preceded by Charles B. Rangel |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 19th congressional district 1983–1988 |
Succeeded by Eliot L. Engel |
