Mario Biaggi#Corruption convictions

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Mario Biaggi

|image = Mario Biaggi.jpg

|state = New York

|term_start = January 3, 1969

|term_end = August 5, 1988

|predecessor = Paul A. Fino

|successor = Eliot Engel

|constituency = {{ushr|NY|24|C}} (1969–1973)
{{ushr|NY|10|C}} (1973–1983)
{{ushr|NY|19|C}} (1983–1988)

|birth_date = {{birth date|1917|10|26}}

|birth_place = New York City, U.S.

|death_date = {{death date and age|2015|6|24|1917|10|26}}

|death_place = New York City, U.S.

|party = Democratic

|otherparty = Conservative (1973)

|spouse = {{marriage|Marie Wassil|1940|1997|end=died}}

|children = 4

|relatives = Alessandra Biaggi (granddaughter)

|education = New York Law School (LLB)

|restingplace = Gate of Heaven Cemetery

}}

Mario Biaggi (October 26, 1917 – June 24, 2015) was an American politician, attorney, and police officer. He served ten terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York from 1969 to 1988.

Prior to his political career, Biaggi became one of the most decorated officers in NYPD history; he killed two criminals who attacked him and was injured 11 times as an officer. He then became an attorney at 49 years of age. First elected a U.S. Representative as a Democrat from the Bronx in 1968, Biaggi was subsequently re-elected nine times, seven times with more than 90% of the vote.

In 1987 and 1988, he was convicted in two trials of receipt of unlawful gratuities, and, facing the prospect of expulsion from the House, he resigned from Congress in 1988.{{cite news|last1=Lynn|first1=Frank|title=Biaggi Quits, Will Not Seek An 11th Term|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/06/nyregion/biaggi-quits-will-not-seek-an-11th-term.html|access-date=August 15, 2016|newspaper=New York Times|date=August 6, 1988}}

Early life

Biaggi was born in a tenement on East 106th Street in East Harlem in Upper Manhattan, New York City, New York to poor Italian immigrants from Piacenza in Northern Italy.{{cite news|last1=McFadden|first1=Robert D.|title=Mario Biaggi, 97, Popular Bronx Congressman Who Went to Prison, Dies|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/26/nyregion/mario-biaggi-10-term-new-york-congressman-who-went-to-prison-dies-at-97.html|access-date=August 15, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 25, 2015|page=A25}} His father, Salvatore Biaggi, was a marble setter. His mother, Mary (née Campari), worked as a charwoman.[https://books.google.com/books?id=nZIYAAAAIAAJ&q=%22mario+biaggi%22+%22salvatore%22+%22mary%22 Current Biography Yearbook; 1986], H.W. Wilson Company.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/26/nyregion/mario-biaggi-10-term-new-york-congressman-who-went-to-prison-dies-at-97.html|title=Mario Biaggi, 97, Popular Bronx Congressman Who Went to Prison, Dies|first=Robert D.|last=McFadden|date=June 25, 2015|work=The New York Times}} He had two younger brothers.

Biaggi graduated from P.S. 171 in East Harlem. Subsequently, in 1934 during the height of the Depression, he graduated from Haaren High School in Manhattan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/03/19/archives/biaggi-tells-his-listeners-l-too-have-worked-hard-in-biaggi-country.html|title=Biaggi Tells His Listeners: I, Too, Have Worked Hard|first=Tom|last=Buckley|date=March 19, 1973|work=The New York Times}}[https://books.google.com/books?id=LbWVFCD-JksC&dq=%22mario+biaggi%22++%22high+school%22+haaren&pg=PA100 "Biographies of Witnesses, Foreign Assistance for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland; Hearing and Markup Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Its Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East, House of Representatives, Ninety-ninth Congress, Second Session, on H.R. 4329,"] March 5 and 6, 1986, Vol. 4, United States Congress House Committee on Foreign Affairs, 1986. In 1940 he married Marie Wassil (who died in 1997), and they moved to the Bronx and had two daughters, Barbara and Jacqueline, and two sons, Richard and Mario Jr.

Early career

=Mailman=

After working as a shoeshine boy and a stint as a factory worker, at age 18, Biaggi became a substitute letter carrier for the United States Postal Service, for 65 cents per hour.Emily Langer (June 25, 2015). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/mario-biaggi-ny-congressman-convicted-of-corruption-dies-at-97/2015/06/25/b824878a-1b4b-11e5-93b7-5eddc056ad8a_story.html "Mario Biaggi, N.Y. congressman convicted of corruption, dies at 97,"] The Washington Post.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/22/nyregion/praise-and-pity-heard-in-bronx-for-rep-biaggi.html|title=Praise and Pity Heard in Bronx For Rep. Biaggi|first=Sam Howe|last=Verhovek|date=February 22, 1988|work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GYLSXTOFpmAC&dq=%22mario+biaggi%22++%22high+school%22+haaren&pg=PA46|title=An Ex-cop Makes his move to Take Over the City|work=New York Magazine|date=December 11, 1972|publisher=New York Media, LLC|author=Richard Reeves}} Later, he became a regular letter carrier; his mail route included the home of one of his heroes, New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia. He served nearly six years with the Post Office and became an activist in Branch 36 of the National Association of Letter Carriers.

=New York City Police Department=

In 1942, Biaggi joined the New York City Police Department (NYPD), at 25 years of age. He wanted to join the US Army, but police were exempted from the US military at the time, and the fact that his two brothers were in the armed forces was an additional factor. His police career spanned 23 years, until 1965.

He was wounded 11 times. Biaggi received dozens of citations for valor, including the police department’s Medal of Honor (its highest award) and the National Police Officers Association of America’s Medal of Valor, becoming one of the NYPD's most decorated officers. Among his many exploits was his rescue in 1946 on Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan of a girl on a runaway horse, which dragged him 90 feet and trampled his right leg before he subdued it, causing a permanent limp.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a_kSAQAAMAAJ&q=%E2%80%9Cmario+biaggi%E2%80%9D+%E2%80%9Chorse%E2%80%9D+limp|author=Richard Yaffe|title=Mario Biaggi |date=January 4, 1973|volume=182|work=The Jewish Week and the American Examiner|via=Google Books}}{{cite news|title=It's Jail for Former Solon|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BopUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=do8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4672,6460818&dq=mario+biaggi+limp+girl&hl=en|access-date=August 15, 2016|work=Ellensburg Daily Record|agency=United Press International|date=November 19, 1988|page=5}} He used a cane for the rest of his life.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-mario-biaggi-former-congressman-from-nyc-dies-at-2015jun25-story.html|title=Mario Biaggi, former congressman from NYC, dies at 97|date=June 25, 2015|author=Karen Matthews|website=San Diego Union-Tribune}} In 1944, he shot and killed a man who tried to stab him with an ice pick, and in 1959, he shot and killed a man who tried to rob him at gunpoint; he himself was wounded in the shootout in the Bronx.

In 1952, he was promoted to Sergeant. He retired from the Department in 1965, with the rank of Detective Lieutenant.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bxtimes.com/former-bronx-congressman-biaggi-dies-at-97/|title=Former Bronx Congressman Biaggi dies at 97|date=July 6, 2015|first=Robert|last=Wirsing|website=Bronx Times}}

=Legal career=

At the age of 45 and near the end of his police career, Biaggi entered law school. The American Bar Association granted him a special dispensation to study law due to his distinguished police career, even though Biaggi had never gone to college and a college degree was a prerequisite for law school.{{cite book|last1=Ashabranner|first1=Brent K.|title=Badge of Valor: The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial|date=2000|publisher=Twenty First Century Books|location=Brookfield, Conn.|isbn=0-7613-1522-5|page=[https://archive.org/details/badgeofvalornati0000asha/page/20 20]|url=https://archive.org/details/badgeofvalornati0000asha|url-access=registration|access-date=August 15, 2016|author-link=Brent Ashabranner}} Dean Daniel Gutman offered him a full scholarship to New York Law School, after hearing him speak at a public event.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/27/us/briefing-the-biaggi-gratitude.html|title=Briefing; The Biaggi Gratitude|first1=James F.|last1=Clarity|first2=Warren Jr.|last2=Weaver|date=September 27, 1985|work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/06/nyregion/biaggi-treading-a-path-of-success-but-trailed-by-an-image-in-shadow.html|title=Biaggi: Treading a Path of Success, But Trailed by an Image in Shadow|first=Mark A.|last=Uhlig|date=August 6, 1988|work=The New York Times}} In 1965, he graduated from the law school with an LLB.{{Cite web|url=https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=B000432|title=Biaggi, Mario (1917-2015)|publisher=Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress }} In 1966, at the age of 49, he was admitted to the New York State Bar and founded the law firm Biaggi & Ehrlich. He represented a Queens woman who was denied the right to be an umpire in minor league baseball in 1969, and won her case at the New York Court of Appeals in 1972.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/14/archives/court-rules-woman-may-be-a-baseball-umpire-states-highest-court.html|title=Court Rules Woman May Be a Baseball Umpire|author=William E. Farrell |date=January 14, 1972|work=The New York Times}}

Political career

= U.S. House of Representatives =

In 1968, the U.S. House seat in {{ushr|NY|24}} became vacant when eight-term Republican incumbent Paul A. Fino resigned to become a justice on the New York Supreme Court. Biaggi ran for the open seat as a Democrat with the endorsement of the Conservative Party. He won the 1968 election to Congress with 60.5% of the vote in what had previously been considered a traditional Bronx Republican stronghold.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/23/nyregion/biaggi-s-climb-a-mix-of-honor-and-rumor.html|title=Biaggi's Climb: A Mix Of Honor and Rumor|first=Mark A.|last=Uhlig|date=September 23, 1987|work=The New York Times}} He was 51 years old.{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/06/03/Mario-Biaggi-congressman-under-the-gun/3886549691200/|title=Mario Biaggi, congressman under the gun|website=UPI|date=June 3, 1987}}

Author Gerhard Falk wrote: "Few members of the House of Representatives have ever achieved the popularity of Mario Biaggi."Gerhard Falk (2017). [https://books.google.com/books?id=TN8lDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22mario+biaggi%22+%22award%22&pg=PA141 The Assault on American Democracy], {{ISBN|9781628942637}}. He was easily re-elected in 1970, as a nominee of the Democratic, Republican, and Conservative Parties, with a vote of 130,000-8,000. He won the 1970 election defeating former Bronx Borough President Joseph F. Periconi, the 1972 election with 93.9% of the vote, the 1974 election with 82.4% of the vote, the 1976 election with 91.6% of the vote, the 1978 election with 95.0% of the vote, the 1980 election with 94.5% of the vote, the 1982 election with 93.7% of the vote, the 1984 election with 94.8% of the vote, and the 1986 election with 90.2% of the vote.[https://web.archive.org/web/20211105040459/https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections84.pdf "FEDERAL ELECTIONS 84; Election Results for U.S. President, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives,"] Federal Election Commission, June 1985.[https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1986election.pdf "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1986,"] Clerk of the House of Representatives, May 29, 1987.

In the redistricting after the 1970 United States census, Biaggi's district was renumbered the 10th, and included part of Queens.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/06/21/archives/bankhagan.html|title=Bank-Hagan|date=June 21, 1972|work=The New York Times}} In the redistricting after the 1980 census, his district was renumbered the 19th, and included part of suburban Westchester County.[https://books.google.com/books?id=n1IwAQAAIAAJ&q=biaggi+redistricting+19th+mario Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report], Vol. 41, 1983. From 1972 onward, he was nominated by the Republicans as well. In 1968, 1970, and 1972 he also received the Conservative nomination.Richard Norton Smith (2014). [https://books.google.com/books?id=fzeODQAAQBAJ&dq=%22mario+Biaggi%22+nominated+%22conservative+party%22&pg=PA627 On His Own Terms; A Life of Nelson Rockefeller,] Random House.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rothbard.it/articles/libertarian-forum/lf-5-3.pdf|work=The Libertarian Forum|date=March 1973|title=The Mayoral Circus|volume=5|number=3}} From 1978 onward he got the Liberal nomination.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/07/20/nyregion/liberal-party-despite-small-size-clings-to-its-role.html|title=LIBERAL PARTY, DESPITE SMALL SIZE, CLINGS TO ITS ROLE|first=Donna|last=Greene|date=July 20, 1986|work=The New York Times}}

Biaggi was known as a law-and-order Democrat, socially conservative, economically progressive, and tough on street crime, and led the institution of a federal ban on armor-piercing "cop killer" teflon-coated bullets, a major concern of police.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/statement-signing-bill-regulate-armor-piercing-ammunition|title=Statement on Signing the Bill To Regulate Armor-Piercing Ammunition|author=Ronald Reagan|date=August 28, 1986}}Kim I. Mills (July 11, 1988). [https://apnews.com/article/fff9ca1d5f456bb91787d315467f9f44 "Mario Biaggi: Lawman to Lawmaker to Law-Breaker,"] AP News.{{Cite news |date=May 29, 1985 |title='Cop-killer' Bullets Focus Of New Fight |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/05/29/cop-killer-bullets-focus-of-new-fight/ |agency=Knight-Ridder |newspaper=The Chicago Tribune |access-date=March 9, 2017 }} He also strongly supported the elderly, labor unions, the mentally disabled, hand-gun control, Israel, Soviet Jewry, and peace in Northern Ireland, and opposed brutality in US Army camps and antisemitism.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/03/14/archives/biaggi-enters-race-and-attacks-bosses-biaggi-announces-candidacy.html|title=Biaggi Enters Race And Attacks Bosses|first=Frank|last=Lynn|date=March 14, 1973|work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/jmd/legacy/2013/10/18/cr-e43-4-1988.pdf|title=Alarming Rise in Anti-semitism Noted|date=January 27, 1988|author=Mario Biaggi|work=Congressional Record.}} Commenting in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War, Biaggi said: "Israel was attacked in very much the same fashion that Pearl Harbor was attacked."{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/10/08/archives/jews-here-offer-prayer-and-vow-support-jews-here-offer-prayers-on.html|title=Jews Here Offer Prayer and Vow Support|first=Maurice|last=Carroll|date=October 8, 1973|work=The New York Times}}

He was noted for being "a service congressman." John C. Dearie, a former New York State Assemblyman, recalled: "He would do it for the son who needed to get his mother a bed in a nursing home, or the family who needed to resolve a Social Security problem, or the kid who needed help getting a job application at the Parks Department. He would pick up and make the phone call, and when he did, it was like God himself was making the call."

During his tenure in office he was Chairman of the United States House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Navigation, Chairman of the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Aging Subcommittee on Human Services, and Chairman of the 120-member bi-partisan Ad Hoc Congressional Committee for Irish Affairs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/06/24/archives/biaggi-seeks-new-water-safety-plan.html|title=Biaggi Seeks New Water Safety Plan|first=Joanne A.|last=Fishman|date=June 24, 1979|work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/10/31/Rep-Mario-Biaggi-D-NY-Saturday-accused-the-State-Department/2553373352400/|title=Rep. Mario Biaggi, D-N.Y., Saturday accused the State Department of 'discrimination and gross censorship' ...|website=UPI|date=October 31, 1981}}[https://books.google.com/books?id=yAVw0NaBr9oC&dq=%22mario+biaggi%22+%22chairman%22+-coast+-%22irish+affairs%22+aging+human+services&pg=PA38 "To Reauthorize and Extend the Older Americans Act of 1965, as Amended; Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Ninety-seventh Congress, First Session, on H.R. 3046 ... "], Hearing Held in Washington, D.C., on April 29, 1981.{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/member-of-congress-suspected-of-ira-links-1.1276081|title=Member of Congress suspected of IRA links|first=Deaglan De|last=Breadun|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=December 30, 2008}}

File:Orders 31-3.jpg

In 1975, Biaggi introduced a joint resolution of Congress, Public Law 94-479, to posthumously promote George Washington to the grade of General of the Armies of the United States and restore Washington's position as the highest-ranking military officer in U.S. history.[https://archive.today/20120729035941/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d094:H.J.Res519: Library of Congress], H.J. Res. 519 It was passed and was approved by President Gerald Ford in 1976, and formalized in Department of the Army Order 31-3 in 1978, with an effective appointment date of July 4, 1976, the United States Bicentennial.[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/94/hjres519/text Text of H.J.Res. 519 (94th): Joint resolution to provide for the appointment of George Washington to the grade of General of the Armies of the United States.] Passed Congress version, October 11, 1976.

Biaggi established the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). It sponsored the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. at Judiciary Square, authorized in 1984, which honors 21,183 U.S. law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty throughout American history.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aphf.org/memorial.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729084104/http://www.aphf.org/memorial.html|title=American Police Officer Hall of Fame and Memorial|website=aphf.org|archivedate=July 29, 2012}}

=1973 mayoral campaign=

{{See also|1973 New York City mayoral election}}File:Soundview Biaggi, State Senator, Mayoral Candidate (NYPL b11524053-1253149).tiff

In 1973, Biaggi declared his candidacy for Mayor of New York City. He entered the Democratic primary. Biaggi was a fairly conservative Democrat by New York City standards, and had run on the Conservative line for Congress three times. Conservative Party leaders supported him as the party's candidate for mayor, and planned to make him their nominee regardless of whether he received the Democratic line.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/03/13/archives/conservatives-pick-biaggi-as-candidate-for-mayor-biaggi-gets.html|title=Conservatives Pick Biaggi As Candidate for Mayor|first=Frank|last=Lynn|date=March 13, 1973|work=The New York Times}} Initially, he was ahead in the polls.David M. Dorsen (2012). [https://books.google.com/books?id=Z9ctStY3580C&dq=%22mario+Biaggi%22+nominated+%22conservative+party%22&pg=PA222 Henry Friendly, Greatest Judge of His Era,] Harvard University Press. Biaggi lost the Democratic primary in June, coming in third with 21% of the vote behind Abe Beame (34%) and Herman Badillo (29%), and ahead of Albert H. Blumenthal (16%).{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/06/24/archives/biaggi-still-holds-the-key-primary.html|title=Primary Biaggi Still Holds The Key|date=June 24, 1973|author=Frank Lynn|work=The New York Times}}

After Biaggi did not win the Democratic primary, while he remained on the Conservative line in the general election, he gave assurances to Democratic county chairmen in late August 1973 that he would not make a "serious run" for Mayor and thereby pull votes away from Democratic nominee Beame, even though he would remain as the Conservative party nominee inasmuch as New York law did not allow him to withdraw at that stage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/08/24/archives/biaggi-abandons-serious-effort-mayoral-candidate-is-said-to-look.html|title=BIAGGI ABANDONS 'SERIOUS' EFFORT|first=Maurice|last=Carroll|date=August 24, 1973|work=The New York Times}} He finished in fourth place, behind Beame, John Marchi, and Blumenthal, with 11% of the vote, as Beame won the election.{{cite web|title=New York City Mayoral Election 1973|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=79305|access-date=April 16, 2014|publisher=Our Campaigns}}

=Unlawful gratuity convictions=

In 1987 Biaggi was charged with taking an unlawful gratuity. He had accepted a payment of a $3,200 spa bill for him and his companion as he vacationed in Florida in December 1984, from his long-time friend former Brooklyn Democratic leader Meade Esposito.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/06/nyregion/biaggi-is-given-a-prison-term-of-30-months.html|title=Biaggi Is Given A Prison Term Of 30 Months|first=Leonard|last=Buder|date=November 6, 1987|work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/04/nyregion/metro-matters-mario-biaggi-hearing-a-sad-haunted-voice.html|title=Metro Matters; Mario Biaggi, Hearing a Sad, Haunted Voice|first=Sam|last=Roberts|date=August 4, 1988|work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/nyregion/07biaggi.html|title=At 90, Biaggi Offers Reminders of Survival as Well as Service|first=Sam|last=Roberts|date=November 7, 2007|work=The New York Times}} Prosecutors said it was in exchange for using his influence to help a ship-repair company that was a major client of Esposito's insurance agency. The defense said it was given by Esposito out of friendship, and no favors were done by Biaggi in return. The judge explained that to convict Biaggi of bribery, the jury would have to find that Biaggi accepted something of value with the understanding it was in exchange for Biaggi's influence on official actions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/23/nyregion/biaggi-esposito-convicted-on-gift-but-not-on-bribe.html|title=BIAGGI, ESPOSITO CONVICTED ON GIFT BUT NOT ON BRIBE|first=Leonard|last=Buder|date=September 23, 1987|work=The New York Times}} He said that in contrast an unlawful gratuity is like a tip given for services performed or expected to be performed, but requires no quid pro quo understanding.

Biaggi was acquitted of both bribery and conspiracy in the three-week trial. He was, however, convicted of accepting an illegal gratuity and obstruction of justice, sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison, and fined $500,000.Trager, p. 786. Esposito received a suspended sentence. Judge Jack B. Weinstein said, as he sentenced Biaggi: "If ever there was a Greek tragedy, it is this one. A hero is today struck low, and grief descends." Even after, Biaggi maintained his innocence.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-04-10-mn-1606-story.html|title=The Nation|date=April 10, 1989|website=Los Angeles Times}} The House Ethics Committee recommended that Biaggi be expelled, the most severe penalty.{{Cite web|url=http://corporate.cq.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=224|work=Congressional Quarterly|title=Disciplining Members|access-date=November 27, 2009|archive-date=December 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219155403/http://corporate.cq.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=224|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/02/18/The-House-ethics-committee-recommended-Thursday-that-Rep-Mario/1687572158800/|title=The House ethics committee recommended Thursday that Rep. Mario...|website=UPI|date=February 19, 1988|author= Robert Shepard}}

Separately, in 1988 Biaggi was charged by US Attorney Rudy Giuliani in the Wedtech scandal with having accepted bribes for assisting the Wedtech Corporation in obtaining federal procurement contracts.{{cite news|author=Rudin, Ken|date=June 6, 2007|title=The Equal-Opportunity Culture of Corruption|publisher=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10770284|access-date=July 29, 2007}} The core of the prosecution's case was built around the testimony of four former Wedtech executives who negotiated cooperation agreements with the government, that allowed the executives to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for their cooperation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/05/nyregion/biaggi-convicted-in-wedtech-case-simon-also-guilty.html|title=BIAGGI CONVICTED IN WEDTECH CASE; SIMON ALSO GUILTY|first=Howard W.|last=French|date=August 5, 1988|work=The New York Times}} He was convicted of 15 counts of obstruction of justice and accepting illegal gratuities. Prior to his sentencing, dozens of House members wrote letters to the sentencing judge attesting to Biaggi's character and past contributions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/18/nyregion/house-members-provide-letters-backing-biaggi.html|title=House Members Provide Letters Backing Biaggi|first1=Clifford D.|last1=May|date=November 18, 1988|work=The New York Times}} He was sentenced to eight years in federal prison. He continued to maintain his innocence.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/06/nyregion/biaggi-quits-will-not-seek-an-11th-term.html|title=Biaggi Quits, Will Not Seek An 11th Term|first=Frank|last=Lynn|date=August 6, 1988|work=The New York Times}} Three other defendants in the Wedtech scandal who were also indicted by Giuliani, and also initially convicted of receiving illegal payments, had their convictions overturned in 1991 by the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which held that prosecutors "should have been aware" that a crucial Wedtech executive witness in the Wedtech case lied; the witness had also testified against Biaggi in his trial, in exchange for being allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/01/nyregion/court-overturns-convictions-of-3-in-wedtech-case.html|title=COURT OVERTURNS CONVICTIONS OF 3 IN WEDTECH CASE|first=Constance L.|last=Hays|date=June 1, 1991|work=The New York Times}}

Later life

Facing expulsion from the House, Biaggi resigned his seat on August 5, 1988.{{cite web|title=Biaggi, Mario - Biographical Information|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000432|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303213212/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000432|archive-date=March 3, 2017|website=Congress.gov}} He was at the time 70 years old, and the senior Congressman in the New York City delegation.

Since primary election petitions were already filed, Biaggi remained on the ballot for the 1988 Democratic and Republican primaries in the 19th District, though he said that he would not campaign nor run. He sought to be removed from the ballot, but a New York court held that there was no legal means to effect his removal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/12/nyregion/rally-for-biaggi-draws-criticism-of-its-timing.html|title=Rally for Biaggi Draws Criticism of Its Timing|first=Sam Howe|last=Verhovek|date=September 12, 1988|work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/16/nyregion/biaggi-is-defeated-in-congress-race-by-assemblyman.html|title=BIAGGI IS DEFEATED IN CONGRESS RACE BY ASSEMBLYMAN|first=Frank|last=Lynn|date=September 16, 1988|work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/13/nyregion/biaggi-is-still-a-force-in-bronx-race.html|title=Biaggi Is Still a Force in Bronx Race|first=Frank|last=Lynn|date=September 13, 1988|work=The New York Times}} Biaggi did not campaign, and lost the Democratic primary to then-State Assemblyman Eliot Engel. At the time, the 19th District was one of the more conservative districts in New York City. He was nominated by the Republican Party.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/05/nyregion/house-leaders-set-date-to-weigh-action-on-biaggi.html|title=House Leaders Set Date to Weigh Action on Biaggi|first1=Clifford D.|last1=May|date=August 5, 1988|work=The New York Times}} In the general election, Engel won with 56% of the vote to Biaggi's 44%.{{cite web|title=NY District 19 Race - Nov 8, 1988|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=38077|website=Our Campaigns}} To date, this is the last time that a candidate running on the Republican line has crossed the 40% mark in the district.

In Robert Friedman's biography of Meir Kahane, the leader of the Jewish Defense League, Kahane states that Biaggi marched with both himself and New York City mafia boss Joseph Colombo in 1971. Friedman also states that Biaggi received a "medal of honor" from Kahane at a Kach dinner that took place at the Lincoln Square Synagogue in February 1988.{{cite book |last1=Friedman |first1=Robert |title=The False Prophet: Rabbi Meri Kahane |date=1990 |publisher=Lawrence Hill Books |page=125}}

On April 10 1989, Biaggi began serving his prison sentence at Fort Worth.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/10/nyregion/biaggi-gets-farewell-as-he-goes-to-prison-to-serve-sentence.html|title=

Biaggi Gets Farewell As He Goes to Prison To Serve Sentence|newspaper=New York Times|date=April 10, 1989}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/1989/4/10/18802078/biaggi-arrives-in-texas-to-do-time-for-taking-bribes/|title=BIAGGI ARRIVES IN TEXAS TO DO TIME FOR TAKING BRIBES|website=Deseret News|date=April 10, 1989}}

Biaggi was released in 1991 when he was 73 years old, after 26 months in prison, by the sentencing judge on the grounds of ill health (heart problems, arthritis, nerve damage in his legs, and broken bones from four falls in prison).{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/29/nyregion/us-judge-signs-biaggi-release-citing-ill-health.html|title=U.S. Judge Signs Biaggi Release, Citing Ill Health|first=Glenn|last=Fowler|date=June 29, 1991|work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/12/nyregion/out-of-cell-and-sickbed-biaggi-tries-anew.html|title=Out of Cell (and Sickbed), Biaggi Tries Anew|first=Alessandra|last=Stanley|date=September 12, 1992|work=The New York Times}} He would have been eligible for parole six months later.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/30/nyregion/judge-orders-ailing-biaggi-released-from-a-prison-in-texas.html|title=Judge Orders Ailing Biaggi Released From a Prison in Texas|first=Marvine|last=Howe|date=June 30, 1991|work=The New York Times}}

In 1992, at 74 years of age, Biaggi attempted a political comeback.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/16/nyregion/the-1992-campaign-17th-district-biaggi-fails-in-his-bid-to-return-to-congress.html|title=THE 1992 CAMPAIGN: 17TH DISTRICT; Biaggi Fails in His Bid to Return to Congress|first=James|last=Bennet|date=September 16, 1992|work=The New York Times}} He sought his old seat in Congress, challenging his successor, Engel, in the Democratic primary.{{cite news|last1=Gonzalez|first1=David|date=August 2, 1992|title=Issue in Campaign Is Biaggi's Record, but Which One?|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/02/nyregion/issue-in-campaign-is-biaggi-s-record-but-which-one.html|access-date=August 15, 2016}} The last Congressman to be re-elected after serving time for a felony was Matthew Lyon of Vermont, who ran from jail in 1798 and won. Biaggi was endorsed by the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association and eight other police and firefighter unions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/06/nyregion/political-notes-police-unions-still-loyal-to-biaggi.html|title=POLITICAL NOTES; Police Unions Still Loyal to Biaggi|first=Alan|last=Finder|date=September 6, 1992|work=The New York Times}} He said that many of his former constituents asked him to run, and that Engel had a poor record on constituent service. Despite the enthusiasm of some of his supporters, Biaggi raised little money. Engel, who raised more money and cited Biaggi's criminal convictions, won easily. After the election, the Bronx News reported that some of Biaggi's former constituents wanted to vote for him but could not. In the redistricting after the 1990 census, parts of Biaggi's old district that had been his strongholds, Throggs Neck and Morris Park, had been shifted to other districts.

As the presidency of Bill Clinton closed, Biaggi requested a pardon for his federal convictions. When asked for comment, the United States Attorneys Offices for the Eastern and Southern District of New York each opposed pardon for any convictions, noting that Biaggi received a humanitarian release and had failed to pay his fines. No pardon was issued.{{Cite book |last=Office of the Counsel to the President |url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/40435811 |title=[Mario Biaggi] [Loose] |date=2000 |publisher=Archives.gov |series=Series: Meredith Cabe's Files, 1998 - 2001}}

= Death and burial =

Biaggi died at his home in Riverdale in the Bronx on June 24, 2015, at the age of 97.Robert Wirsing (July 3–9, 2015). [https://www.bxtimes.com/assets/pdf/2015_27bxt.pdf "Former Bronx Congressman Mario Biaggi Dies at 97,"] Bronx Times, p. 3. He is buried in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.

= Relatives =

In their obituary, the New York Times noted his survivors as two daughters, two sons, eleven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. From 2019-2022, Biaggi's granddaughter, Alessandra Biaggi, was a member of the New York State Senate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.audacy.com/1010wins/news/local/ny-state-sen-alessandra-biaggi-tests-positive-for-covid-19-in-breakthrough-case|title=NY State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi tests positive for COVID-19 in breakthrough case|date=October 22, 2021|website=1010 WINS|author=Brian Brant}}

Accolades

In 1961, Biaggi became the first police officer in New York State to be made a member of the National Police Officers Hall of Fame. In 1976, he was inducted into the National Italian American Hall of Fame.[https://books.google.com/books?id=dZGcuxAvCY8C&dq=%22mario+biaggi%22+%22italian+american+hall+of+fame%22&pg=PA136 Official Congressional Directory], Vol. 99, United States Congress, 1985. In 2000, he was inducted into the National Safe Boating Council’s Boating Safety Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=https://sca.nasbla.org/2015/10/28/former-us-rep-mario-biaggi-dies-at-97/|title=Former US Rep Mario Biaggi dies at 97|date=October 28, 2015|publisher= Small Craft Advisory}}

Biaggi received the New York City Police Department's Medal of Honor (1960), the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity from Italy (1961), the National Law Officers Distinguished Service Award (1968), the Columbian Lawyers Association Rapallo Award (1972), the Jewish Identity Center Award for Dedicated Efforts on Behalf of Jewish Causes (1978), the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Bonner Award (1978), the Order of the Pike Award, the Ancient Order of Hibernians (1980), and the August A. Busch, III Award (1981). He was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize (1982; for trying to halt the violence in Northern Ireland), and received the American Merchant Marine Achievement Award (1983), the United Seamen's Service Admiral of the Ocean Sea Award (1983), the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's Distinguished Service Award (1998), the Grand Council of United Emerald Societies Presidents Award (2001), the NYPD Shomrim Society Otto Raphael Award (2005), and the Ancient Order of Hibernians Friend of the Irish Award (2011).Ray Barron (February 26, 2016). [http://www.bostonpostgazette.com/gazette_2-26-16.indd.pdf "11 o'clock News,"] Boston Post-Gazette, p. 12.Ron Quartararo (2012). [https://books.google.com/books?id=aGaVtIIzUHUC&dq=%22mario+biaggi%22+%22nobel+peace+prize%22+nominated&pg=PT19 The Media & The Mob:Exploring the Mafia Mystique; A Discussion with Television News Executives][https://books.google.com/books?id=CqNWAAAAYAAJ&q=%22mario+biaggi%22+%22nobel+peace+prize%22+nominated The New York Red Book], Vol. 88, Williams Press, 1985.Anne T. Romano (2010). [https://books.google.com/books?id=OB0wOgBbHHkC&dq=%22mario+biaggi%22+%22p.s.+171%22&pg=PA85 Italian Americans in Law Enforcement]{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B7BVAAAAYAAJ&q=biaggi+%E2%80%9Cstar+of+solidarity%E2%80%9D+italy+1961|title=The candidates; Volume 1 of U.S. Presidential Candidates and the Elections: A Biographical and Historical Guide|first=James T.|last=Havel|date= 1996|publisher=Macmillan Library Reference USA|isbn=9780028646237|via=Google Books}}{{Cite web|url=https://magazines.marinelink.com/Magazines/MaritimeReporter/19831215/content/recipient-biaggi-maritime-203969|title=AOTOS Award Recipient Mario Biaggi Urges Maritime Unity|website=Maritime Reporter|date=December 15, 1983}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nypdshomrim.org/otto-raphael-award/|title=Otto Raphael Award |publisher=NYPD Shomrim Society}}{{Cite web|url=https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NASBLA/76594a34-f3a1-4916-95ac-1e9c872170cc/UploadedImages/about/awards/Bonner_Award_Recipients.pdf|title=Bonner Award Recipients}}[http://www.columbianlawyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/50thRapalloLuncheonProgram041815.pdf "50th Rapallo Luncheon Program,"] Columbian Lawyers Association, April 18, 2015.[https://books.google.com/books?id=qnrQkPJU6hYC&dq=%22mario+biaggi%22+%22award%22&pg=PA6 "Biaggi Honored for Legislation,"], Boating Safety Newsletter, Office of Boating Safety, United States Coast Guard, Department of Transportation, 1981.

Fordham University conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Biaggi in 1984, for being "widely respected as a Representative of unparalleled responsiveness to his constituents even in the smallest personal matter", and New York Law School held the Inaugural Mario Biaggi Lecture in 1985.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/20/nyregion/fordham-graduation-honors-walesa-in-absentia.html|title=FORDHAM GRADUATION HONORS WALESA IN ABSENTIA|first=Eric|last=Pace|date=May 20, 1984|work=The New York Times}}Roger J. Miner (1985). [https://digitalcommons.nyls.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=scrapbooks Book #12A], New York Law School.

References

External links

{{cite book |last = Roth |first = Mitchel P. |title = Historical Dictionary of Law Enforcement |publisher = Greenwood Press |year = 2001 |isbn = 0-313-30560-9 }}
{{cite book |last = Trager |first = James |title = The New York Chronology: The Ultimate Compendium of Events, People, and Anecdotes from the Dutch to the Present |publisher = HarperCollins |year = 2003 |isbn = 0-06-052341-7 |url-access = registration |url = https://archive.org/details/newyorkchronolog00trag_0 }}

{{Congbio|B000432}}
{{C-SPAN|25407}}
Mario Biaggi (December 19, 1972). [https://www.nytimes.com/1972/12/19/archives/retarded-forgotten.html?searchResultPosition=9 "Retarded, Forgotten,"] The New York Times.

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 24th congressional district|years=1969–1973}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 10th congressional district|years=1973–1983}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 19th congressional district|years=1983–1988}}

{{s-ttl|title=Conservative nominee for Mayor of New York City|years=1973}}

{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 91st-100th United States Congress |state=New York}}