Jury selection begins today in New York City in the federal corruption trial of former Cuomo aide Joe Percoco.
He's accused of collecting a fortune in bribes from two companies doing business with the state.
The governor isn't accused of wrongdoing, and is not expected to testify, but analysts say the case has proven to be an embarassment to his administration.
Prosecutors say Percoco sold his influence by taking more than $315 thousand from a Syracuse real estate development company, COR Development, and Competitive Power Ventures, an energy company planning to build a power plant in the Hudson Valley. In exchange, prosecutors say Percoco promised to help the two companies in their dealings with state government.
An attorney for Percoco has said the charges are an "overreach of classic proportions."
The trial is expected to last 4-6 weeks.
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