Mistrial Declared For Norman Seabrook, Ex-Corrections Union Head

FINANCIAL DISTRICT, NY — A federal judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the corruption case against Norman Seabrook, the former head of the New York City correction officers union. Seabrook was accused of taking a bribe in exchange for investing union pension money in a hedge fund.

The jury told Judge Andrew L. Carter Thursday afternoon that it was deadlocked for the second time in three days, The New York Times reported.

Federal prosecutors said they plan to retry Seabrook, who was reportedly ousted from the helm of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association last week.

Prosecutors alleged that Seabrook took a $60,000 bribe from hedge fund manager Murray Huberfeld in exchange for $20 million from the union's pension fund into one of Huberfeld's hedge funds. Huberfeld was charged alongside Seabrook.

"We look forward to a retrial where we will present again the powerful proof of how Seabrook allegedly sold his duty to safeguard correction officers’ retirement money to Murray Huberfeld in exchange for cash bribes," Joon H. Kim, the acting U.S. attorney in Manhattan, said in a statement. "Although justice has been delayed, we expect it will ultimately prevail."

Prosecutors have said Seabrook held immense power over the union that represents some 9,000 officers in the city's jails, including Rikers Island.

His trial featured lengthy testimony from Brooklyn businessman Jona Rechnitz, the prosecutors' star witness who reportedly described in sometimes sordid detail how he was promised access to City Hall in exchange for campaign contributions to Mayor Bill de Blasio.

While Rechnitz caused headaches for the mayor leading up to his re-election last week, his testimony ultimately failed to win prosecutors a conviction. He said in court that he delivered the $60,000 bribe to Seabrook in a designer handbag, but also admitted on the stand to doctoring emails and telling other lies, POLITICO New York reported.

The mistrial in Seabrook's case was just one of two declared Thursday. A New Jersey jury also couldn't reach a verdict in the corruption case of Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez.

(Lead image: Norman Seabrook leaves federal court in downtown Manhattan after his arrest in June 2016. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)