Van Arsdale also came out of Local 3 of the IBEW, which was "long the most politically active building trades union in New York".
[3] Van Arsdale convinced McLaughlin that a job as a unionized electrician and a college degree were not incompatible, and persuaded him to attend night school.
"[1] A February 2002 report noted that St. Ann's Athletic Association in Flushing had received $4,000 from McLaughlin for uniforms, equipment, and facilities, an appropriation he had introduced into the 1999 state budget.
[2] During McLaughlin's tenure at the Council on New York City Labor, he served as the assistant to the son of the first president of the organization, Thomas Van Arsdale.
[3] McLaughlin had also been courted by not just the mayor, but also bishops, corporate CEOs and real estate magnates, thus emerging "as a major player in some of the biggest municipal battles" of 2006, "including the transit strike and the West Side stadium fight.
[4] In 2001, he praised the selection of United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten as grand marshal of that year's parade.
This year our attention will be on the need for quality public schools... Randi Weingarten has not only been an outstanding labor leader in this city.
One of the many local labor leaders to praise McLaughlin during his indictment, was most notably Randi Weingarten, President of the United Federation of Teachers: "Brian took over the Central Labor Council when it was at its lowest point in terms of power, prestige and stature and made it into an important institution again... One of his big strengths is that even if you're in a fight that's unpopular, he'll stand with you.
"[4] In December 2003, it was understood that New York City Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz had "garnered the undisguised ire of Randi Weingarten, the powerful head of the UFT and Brian McLaughlin" by "publicly airing the work rules that many education reformers have criticized for years.
Influenced by McLaughlin's presence, then City Councilman Bill de Blasio, a strong labor supporter who would later become mayor, "did what he could to distance himself from Moskowitz during the hearing.
He accused Gifford Miller, the City Council Speaker, of making "--referencing to Eve Moskowitz--at the expense of the careers of "over 100,000 workers"—referencing New York public school teachers—who "were ridiculed in the process."
"[12] McLaughlin was part of a coalition urging the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation to commit $1 billion in post-9/11 federal funding to the Liberty Jobs plan.
He led the 2003 Labor for Democracy campaign in reaction to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's effort to increase voter participation by replacing the 2003 party primaries with a charter referendum proposal.
[3] In October 2006, McLaughlin was indicted on 44 federal counts, including racketeering, money laundering, bank and mail fraud, labor bribery, and embezzlement.
The New York Times reported that McLaughlin had legally made "$263,600 in combined salaries and expenses as an assemblyman and labor council president.
"[3] The Times further described the charges as "ranging from the Dickensian (stealing $95,000 from Little League baseball teams to pay his rent) to the brazen (creating two no-show jobs on his legislative payroll and keeping part of one salary).
Labor historian Joshua Freeman, of the City University of New York, said, "If these charges prove true, it's certainly a blot on the union movement.
"[16] The indictment charged that McLaughlin "took more than $140,000 from the street lights division of Local 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, for which he served as business representative," plus "$185,000 from the Central Labor Council, more than $35,000 from the State Assembly, and more than $330,000 from his own re-election committee."
"[3] The indictment also charged that McLaughlin had "used subordinates as 'personal servants,' to take his dog to the veterinarian, hang Christmas lights, trap rodents in his basement and clean out his barn."
Moreover, he was "accused of using more than $330,000 from his re-election campaign funds to pay for personal expenses like a rehearsal dinner for his son's wedding, renovation of his $760,000 house in Suffolk County near Long Island Sound, payment of his country club membership fees and the purchase and installation of a plasma television for a female friend."
[14] The indictment also accused McLaughlin of using the Street Lighting Association fund "as his personal piggy bank, routinely diverting money earmarked for union members to himself, relatives and close friends.
One of these women, Eleanore Levitas, was allegedly paid sizable sums in 2000 "for 'consulting services' to McLaughlin's re-election campaign committee," was put on the CLC payroll, and was given "a no-show job with a street-light contractor.
"[13] Another one of the women whom McLaughlin had allegedly showered with gifts and cash was reported to be Sonia Menezes, "an attractive beauty-spa operator with whom he carried on a long-term relationship.
[13] After learning of the indictment, UFT president Randi Weingarten, a longtime friend and ally of McLaughlin, told the New York Times, "I've been walking around all day stunned."
"[18] Following the news of the indictment, the CLC's 32-member executive board voted unanimously to suspend salary payments to McLaughlin, who at the time was on a paid leave of absence.
Asked her opinion of this development, Weingarten said, "Brian McLaughlin was a colleague and a close friend... this is a sad day for him, his family, and the labor movement.
"[1] After McLaughlin was found guilty in May 2009, federal prosecutor Daniel A. Braun asked for leniency, saying he had provided substantial assistance to the government.
"[1] The New York Times described this as "an apparent reference to steps he has taken toward rehabilitation like attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, as well as cooperating with the government.
"[1] Judge Richard J. Sullivan, however, rejected requests for leniency, and sentenced McLaughlin to ten years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
The most notable were New York City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley,[24] Eleanore Levitas (an alleged stripper who took a "no-show" job for a paycheck),[25][26] McLaughlin won the Labor Achievement Award, presented by New Democratic Dimensions.