Espada's offices raided

State and federal authorities raided embattled state Sen. Pedro Espada Jr.’s Soundview offices on April 21, as reported by several news sources including the New York Daily News.

According to The New York Times, a spokesman for the FBI told reporters outside the clinic that “the agents were conducting a federal search warrant but he could not elaborate on what the raid was seeking because the affidavit in support of the warrant was sealed.”

FBI and IRS officials filed a search warrant just after 7 a.m. on April 21.

There is an ongoing investigation into Espada and his misappropriation of government funding for his non-for-profit, the Soundview Health Network.

Cuomo filed a lawsuit Tuesday charging Espada and 19 associates with using government funds for lavish vacations, campaign materials and other personal items.

“It is clear to many that the motivation behind all of this is simple political payback for what the establishment likes to call the Senate coup, but what I call the start of real reform in the New York State Senate,” Mr. Espada said in a statement on Tuesday.