Lee Kindlon enters Albany Co DA race amid Soares scandal
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — NEWS10 reported that Albany County District Attorney David Soares did not receive the Democratic nomination for re-election, following a pay bonus controversy. Now, another high-profile name is entering the DA race for a second time. Well-known defense attorney Lee Kindlon — who represented defendant Naman Housain in the Schoharie Limo trial — tells NEWS10’s Zion Decoteau he wants to be Albany County’s top prosecutor.
The Democratic Primaries for DA are shaping up to be the case of Soares v Kindlon…again! The pair previously faced off in 2012. Why is Kindlon running again? He says it's Soares’ pay bonus scandal.
“Six weeks ago this wasn't on my radar, but suddenly all this…all this information about how he [Soares] was putting himself above the needs of his office…” said Kindlon.
DA Soares used grant money from the Aid to Prosecution Fund to give himself and staff 11 percent bonuses. “Prior to any bonus going out to anyone, we sought permission to do that and we were told that it is permissive to use those dollars in order to retain people," said Soares.
That meant an extra $22,000 on top of his $200,000 salary. Soares said he did nothing wrong.
“The judiciary law sets a floor, You are not prohibited from receiving additional dollars…” said District Attorney Soares.
When Albany County Democrats doled out their endorsement for DA, Soares didn’t get it —neither did Kindlon. Kindlon however was endorsed by the Working Families Party.
While Soares says he’s returning the bonuses because it’s become an election distraction, he also accuses the politicians criticizing him of hypocrisy.
"Every single elected official in Albany County, including our state legislators, received bonuses within the last two years," said Soares.
Kindlon defended clients in high-profile cases like the Schoharie Limo trial — which he lost. As to whether that will impact voters' view of him: “I will do anything I can for my client, and now all I'm doing is saying OK the people of Albany County are now my client" said Kindlon.
But Soares says Kindlon’s background as a defense attorney and his support of liberal criminal justice reforms should concern voters.
“He represents people who have been convicted of crimes, and these laws have benefited those people," said Soares. "Now what he's trying to do is come onto the other side and be a prosecutor” Soares added.
Kindlon said his background as a Marine Corp Judge Advocate (the Marine equivalent of a prosecutor) further qualifies him to be District Attorney. Soares, meanwhile, says the pay bonus scandal is a distraction from the real issue which is criminals taking advantage of reforms. The primary is set for June 25th.