The Nation - News from Oct. 7, 1987

The key witness against John A. Zaccaro testified that Zaccaro told him “a substantial amount of money” paid to the proper authority could result in the awarding of a cable television franchise to Cablevision Systems. But under cross-examination, Richard Flynn, who was a lawyer for Cablevision, said he did not feel Zaccaro was asking for money to secure the cable franchise. Flynn said he rebuffed Zaccaro’s suggestion. Zaccaro, the husband of former Democratic vice presidential candidate Geraldine A. Ferraro, is accused of receiving a bribe and attempted extortion in connection with trying to secure the franchise. Zaccaro, a real estate investor, had been retained by Cablevision to help it get the Queens franchise.