Nassau gov’t big charged in $5G bribe

A LONG ISLAND public official took a $5,000 bribe from a contractor and then tried to make the man lie about the shady payment, authorities said Thursday.

Long Island federal prosecutors charged Richard (Rob) Walker, a top aide to former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, with obstruction of justice and making false statements.

The charges announced Thursday mean Walker and his former boss both have federal indictments against them. Mangano will stand trial next month on corruption charges.

The charges against Walker, 43, are not related to Mangano, but are connected to Nassau County politics.

Prosecutors said the chief deputy county executive attended an October 2014 Notre Dame football game in South Bend, Ind., with the unidentified contractor who later gave $5,000 in cash to Walker.

In 2017, Walker learned of a grand jury probe into Nassau County political corruption that included questions about the $5,000.

Walker reached out to the contractor to cook up a story explaining the payment — or hide its existence.

The two met in a Hicksville park and Walker handed over $5,000. The feds were secretly watching, court papers said.

Walker later denied getting any cash from the contractor, prosecutors said.

He pleaded not guilty at his Long Island federal court arraignment and was released on $200,000 bond.

Walker’s lawyer said his client was a “very dedicated public servant” who planned to fight the case.