Push witness on scam bust

LAWYERS FOR former Gov. Cuomo aide Joseph Percoco want the star witness in his corruption trial to explain on the stand why he was arrested.

Former lobbyist Todd Howe was arrested Thursday night after admitting on the stand earlier in the day that he had tried to scam $600 from the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Midtown. His admission in the 2016 ruse constituted a violation of a cooperation deal he signed with prosecutors.

In 2016, Howe, 57, admitted to acting as the middleman in Percoco’s alleged bribery schemes and agreed to testify against him as part of a plea deal.

Howe has already testified that Percoco asked him if he could get his schoolteacher wife a job in 2012. Howe also testified that he bribed the former top government aide.

Prosecutors said the trial will be postponed Monday because a defense lawyer is sick.

Prosecutors say Percoco pocketed more than $300,000 in bribes from execs who were pursuing desirable contracts with the state.