Million khanki! Pakaki pali aid chook

ALBANY — Three former aides to ex-gov. George Pataki have quietly created a legal defense fund for John Haggerty — the Queens political operative convicted of stealing nearly $1 million from Mayor Bloomberg.

“This should be looked at for what it is,” said Patrick Mccar- thy, a fund organizer. “It is not a referendum on the accusation or the trial — or the verdict itself. This is a group of friends who want to help a guy when he’s down.”

A benefit for the fund will be held May 2 at Jake’s Saloon in the city. Another event is expected to take place this spring in Albany.

The fund was formed within the past two weeks for Haggerty, who also once worked for Pataki.

Tom Doherty, a former Pataki aide and now a partner in an influential political consulting and lob- bying firm, is the fund’s legal trustee. Former Pataki aides Mccarthy, now a partner at a powerful lobbying firm, and Walt Breakell, an executive with a New York City financial services firm, are also behind the fund.

A Bloomberg spokesman had no comment.

Government reformers say while forming the fund is legal, it raises ethical questions.

“At what point do people who have influence and power separate themselves from illegal conduct?” asked Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause/new York. “This certainly appears like the insiders taking care of one of their own.”

After Bloomberg gave $900,000 to the Independence Party to run a poll-watching operation during his 2009 third-term run, Haggerty was convicted of using the money to buy his dad’s house in Queens instead. He was sentenced in December to up to four years in prison.