Seabrook pal a ‘serial liar’

THE STAR WITNESS in the corruption case against former correction union boss Norman Seabrook is so sketchy, “you would not buy a used car” from him, defense lawyers said Tuesday.

Jona Rechnitz, a major donor to Mayor de Blasio who admitted to exchanging campaign contributions for perks, was the focus of opening statements of Seabrook’s trial in Manhattan Federal Court.

The former president of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association stands accused of pushing $20 million in union pension funds to Murray Huberfeld’s now-defunct hedge fund, Platinum Partners, in exchange for $60,000 in December 2014. Huberfeld is on trial alongside Seabrook (photo).

Prosecutors plan to use testimony from Rechnitz — the alleged bagman in the bribe — to prove Seabrook and Huberfeld, both 57, were in a corrupt scheme. Rechnitz allegedly delivered the cash kickback to Seabrook in an $820 Ferragamo valise.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Martin Bell said in his openings that Rechnitz was an ambitious “wheeler and dealer” who shelled out thousands on vacations and meals for public officials “in exchange for special help from his friends in high places.”

Bell also admitted Rechnitz didn’t tell the truth about his dirty dealings the first few times cops approached him for info, and that he had brokered a plea deal in exchange for testifying.

But Bell insisted Rechnitz eventually came clean, saying, “It’s hard to stick to a lie for so long.” Lawyers for Seabrook and Huberfeld asked the jury not to accept the story of Jona Rechnitz’s redemption.

Paul Shechtman, Seabrook’s lawyer, said Rechnitz is a “serial liar” and the only person saying money was in the bag.

“When this case is over, you would not buy a used car from Jona Rechnitz,” Shechtman said.