Bertram Lawrence "Bert" Podell (December 27, 1925 – August 17, 2005) was an American politician who served in the New York State Assembly for six terms and part of a seventh, and was a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York for part of one term and three full terms. He was a Democrat.
In 1973, Podell was charged with bribery for allegedly accepting money to arrange approval of a route to The Bahamas for a small Florida-based airline.[8] While under indictment, he was defeated in the 1974 Democratic primary by Stephen J. Solarz, who went on to win the general election.[9]
Podell's case was one of the first that brought public attention to Rudolph Giuliani, then a prosecutor in the office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.[10] Podell's trial took a dramatic turn when Giuliani aggressively cross-examined him, causing him to lose his composure and ask for a recess, after which he agreed to plead guilty to reduced charges of conspiracy and conflict of interest. Podell and co-defendant Martin Miller later attempted to withdraw their guilty pleas, but their motion was denied; Podell was sentenced to a $5,000 fine and 24 weeks in prison, of which he served 18. Podell and Miller unsuccessfully appealed their convictions.[11][12][13]
Podell was disbarred by the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division because of his conviction, but then re-instated in 1980 after a New York State law was passed in 1979 made it possible for lawyers to retain their licenses if they were convicted under federal law for crimes which were not considered felonies under state law. Afterwards, Podell continued to practice law until shortly before his death.[2]
Deathedit
Podell died in New York City on August 17, 2005. He was survived by his wife Bunny; two sons, a daughter, two brothers and five grandchildren.[14]
^New York Red Book. Albany, N.Y.: Williams Press. 1977. p. 200.
^ abStone, Kurt F. (2011). The Jews of Capitol Hill: A Compendium of Jewish Congressional Members. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, Inc. pp. 238–240. ISBN978-0-8108-5731-5.
^"Politics and Politicians: Biography, Bertram Podell". M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives. State University of New York at Albany. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
^Associated Press (July 13, 1973). "Democratic Congressman is Indicted". Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, S.C. p. A5.
^Kornacki, Steve (November 30, 2010). "Steve Solarz (1940-2010) and the Making of Senator Schumer". Politico.com. Washington, D.C.
^The Political Scene: Mayberry Man: Reporting & Essays: The New Yorker
^Associated Press (December 30, 1960). "New York Democrat Enters Guilty Plea". Montana Standard. p. 14.
^"United States of America, Appellee, v. Bertram L. Podell and Martin Miller, Appellants, 519 F.2d 144. Nos. 866, 875, Dockets 75-1019, 75-1030". Court Listener. June 24, 1975.
^Associated Press (January 10, 1975). "Ex-Lawmaker is Sentenced". Toledo Blade. p. 8.
^Wolfgang, Saxon (August 19, 2005). "Bertram Podell, Ex-Congressman, Dies at 79". The New York Times.
bertram, podell, bertram, lawrence, bert, podell, december, 1925, august, 2005, american, politician, served, york, state, assembly, terms, part, seventh, member, united, states, house, representatives, from, york, part, term, three, full, terms, democrat, ber. Bertram Lawrence Bert Podell December 27 1925 August 17 2005 was an American politician who served in the New York State Assembly for six terms and part of a seventh and was a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York for part of one term and three full terms He was a Democrat Bert PodellMember of the U S House of Representatives from New York s 13th districtIn office February 20 1968 January 3 1975Preceded byAbraham J MulterSucceeded byStephen J SolarzMember of the New York AssemblyIn office January 1 1955 February 20 1968Preceded byThomas DwyerSucceeded bySidney LichtmanPersonal detailsBornBertram Lawrence Podell 1925 12 27 December 27 1925New York City U S DiedAugust 17 2005 2005 08 17 aged 79 New York City U S Political partyDemocraticSpouseBunny PosenChildren3EducationSt John s University BA Brooklyn Law School LLB In 1973 Podell was charged with bribery He pled guilty to reduced charges of conspiracy and conflict of interest Contents 1 Personal life 2 Professional and political career 2 1 State assembly 2 2 Congress 3 Criminal charges and election loss 4 Death 5 See also 6 References 7 SourcesPersonal life editPodell was born on December 27 1925 in Brooklyn New York 1 the oldest of three children born to Hyman Podell and Henriette Menaker Podell The family name was originally Podolsky He attended Abraham Lincoln High School joined the United States Navy for World War II and served from 1944 until 1946 2 Podell graduated from St John s University in 1947 and Brooklyn Law School in 1950 3 Professional and political career editPodell practiced in New York City and specialized in real estate law 4 State assembly edit In 1954 he ran for the New York State Assembly he defeated incumbent Thomas A Dwyer in the Democratic primary and went on to defeat Republican Irving Kornblum and two other candidates to win the general election 5 He served from 1955 to 1968 sitting in the 170th 171st 172nd 173rd 174th 175th 176th and 177th New York State Legislatures 6 Congress edit nbsp Podell speaking with garment workers in Brooklyn March 1968 Podell was elected as a Democrat to the 90th United States Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Abraham J Multer He was re elected to the 91st 92nd and 93rd United States Congresses holding office from February 20 1968 to January 3 1975 7 Criminal charges and election loss editIn 1973 Podell was charged with bribery for allegedly accepting money to arrange approval of a route to The Bahamas for a small Florida based airline 8 While under indictment he was defeated in the 1974 Democratic primary by Stephen J Solarz who went on to win the general election 9 Podell s case was one of the first that brought public attention to Rudolph Giuliani then a prosecutor in the office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York 10 Podell s trial took a dramatic turn when Giuliani aggressively cross examined him causing him to lose his composure and ask for a recess after which he agreed to plead guilty to reduced charges of conspiracy and conflict of interest Podell and co defendant Martin Miller later attempted to withdraw their guilty pleas but their motion was denied Podell was sentenced to a 5 000 fine and 24 weeks in prison of which he served 18 Podell and Miller unsuccessfully appealed their convictions 11 12 13 Podell was disbarred by the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division because of his conviction but then re instated in 1980 after a New York State law was passed in 1979 made it possible for lawyers to retain their licenses if they were convicted under federal law for crimes which were not considered felonies under state law Afterwards Podell continued to practice law until shortly before his death 2 Death editPodell died in New York City on August 17 2005 He was survived by his wife Bunny two sons a daughter two brothers and five grandchildren 14 See also editList of American federal politicians convicted of crimes List of federal political scandals in the United States List of Jewish members of the United States CongressReferences edit New York Red Book Albany N Y Williams Press 1977 p 200 a b Stone Kurt F 2011 The Jews of Capitol Hill A Compendium of Jewish Congressional Members Lanham Md Scarecrow Press Inc pp 238 240 ISBN 978 0 8108 5731 5 Stone Kurt F 2000 The Congressional Minyan The Jews of Capitol Hill Brooklyn N Y KTAV Publishing House p 385 ISBN 9780881256598 Convicted Politician Bertram Podell 79 The Washington Post Washington D C August 22 2005 Dems Retain all but One of Boro Seats in Legislature Brooklyn Daily Eagle Brooklyn NY November 3 1954 p 7 CQ Weekly Report Vol 26 Washington D C Congressional Quarterly 1968 p 956 Politics and Politicians Biography Bertram Podell M E Grenander Department of Special Collections amp Archives State University of New York at Albany Retrieved October 13 2015 Associated Press July 13 1973 Democratic Congressman is Indicted Herald Journal Spartanburg S C p A5 Kornacki Steve November 30 2010 Steve Solarz 1940 2010 and the Making of Senator Schumer Politico com Washington D C The Political Scene Mayberry Man Reporting amp Essays The New Yorker Associated Press December 30 1960 New York Democrat Enters Guilty Plea Montana Standard p 14 United States of America Appellee v Bertram L Podell and Martin Miller Appellants 519 F 2d 144 Nos 866 875 Dockets 75 1019 75 1030 Court Listener June 24 1975 Associated Press January 10 1975 Ex Lawmaker is Sentenced Toledo Blade p 8 Wolfgang Saxon August 19 2005 Bertram Podell Ex Congressman Dies at 79 The New York Times Sources editUnited States Congress Bertram L Podell id P000399 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress New York State Assembly Preceded byThomas Dwyer Member of the New York Assemblyfrom Kings County s 21st district1955 1965 Constituency abolished New constituency Member of the New York Assemblyfrom the 53rd district1966 Succeeded byWilliam J Giordano Preceded byStanley Steingut Member of the New York Assemblyfrom the 44th district1967 1968 Succeeded bySidney Lichtman U S House of Representatives Preceded byAbraham J Multer Member of the U S House of Representativesfrom New York s 13th congressional district1968 1975 Succeeded byStephen J Solarz Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bertram L Podell amp oldid 1196049779, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
