New York Daily News

Ex-witness vs. gov pal is a mess

- BY VICTORIA BEKIEMPIS

PROSECUTOR­S’ star witness in the corruption case against a former Gov. Cuomo aide — who was jailed mid-trial after admitting to an attempted con — appeared worse for the wear during a brief court appearance Tuesday afternoon.

Todd Howe, who took the stand against Joseph Percoco, was arrested Feb. 8, after he confessed, under oath, that he tried to scam $600 from the Waldorf Astoria. Howe, 57, has since been locked up at a federal jail in Manhattan.

The former Albany power player, who pleaded guilty to eight felonies just days before Percoco was hit with corruption charges in September 2016, faces up to 130 years behind bars.

Howe, restrained with ankle shackles and handcuffs, walked into a Manhattan Federal courtroom just before 2 p.m.

His lawyer said his role as a cooperatin­g witness in another corruption trial this summer was up in the air.

“It’s not clear to me at this point whether Mr. Howe will be participat­ing as a witness in any further cases,” said Richard Morvillo, Howe’s lawyer.

Percoco, 48, was convicted on March 13 of pocketing more than $300,000 in bribes.

Just one of Percoco’s three co-defendants, Syracuse developer Steven Aiello, was also found guilty.

A mistrial was declared for Peter Galbraith Kelly, a former energy company exec accused of giving Percoco’s wife a low-show consulting gig in exchange for favors.

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