D’Amato Defends Wedtech Support: Area Needed Help

Sen. Alfonse M. D’Amato (R-N.Y.), a prosecution witness at the Wedtech racketeering trial of Rep. Mario Biaggi (D-N.Y.), defended his lobbying on behalf of the South Bronx manufacturer Friday because it was in an economically devastated neighborhood that was a “national disgrace.”

The Republican senator, under cross-examination by Biaggi’s lawyer, James LaRosa, said it was not unusual for public officials to support private companies.

Prosecutors have charged that Biaggi, a Bronx Democrat, illegally received 112,500 shares of Wedtech Corp. stock in exchange for his lobbying efforts on behalf of the company. Biaggi was charged with racketeering and bribery in the case in U.S. District Court.

D’Amato said that in the early 1980s the South Bronx, where Wedtech has its headquarters, “was a national disgrace; everyone was trying to help.”

“It was one of a few minority companies that did defense work, and New York was not getting its share (of defense contracts),” the senator said.

He said his office “spent much more time” lobbying for other constituents in the area rather than just Wedtech because, “We were in a rather desperate position in the South Bronx.”

‘Wedtech Needed Help?’

“So you made these decisions (to help Wedtech) because it was right for the people of New York?” LaRosa asked. “Wedtech needed help?”

“That’s correct,” D’Amato said.

“And you would have done it if you never met Mario Biaggi?” LaRosa asked.

“That’s correct,” D’Amato said. “Because the facts were compelling.”

Prosecutors also asked if D’Amato knew of any wrongdoing by Wedtech.

“I had absolutely no idea of any skulduggery by any of the Wedtech people,” D’Amato said. “I would have been appalled.”