Rice: Town Clerk Wanted to Pay Accuser $10K

PJC September 25, 2012 at 11:21 pm

I am curious to know how Mr. Bonilla knew that intimate and personal photographs of his accuser existed in the first place? Who told him this? Is it possible her boyfriend posted them on Facebook?

Lorraine DeVita September 26, 2012 at 01:17 am

@ Lily - You ARE being facitious arent you? Because you cant be posting that with a straight face. Paying off an accuser to make them go away is ok? How about highly UNETHICAL!
How about bringing the information to light yourself to prove and support your innocence rather then pay hush money. Thats in and of itself is JUST PLAIN WRONG on so many levels.

Richmond H. Lev September 26, 2012 at 05:05 am

Mr. Bonilla should do us all a favour and resign. I have no doubt in my mind that he is guilty. I vote Republican btw.

V September 26, 2012 at 11:38 am

I just cannot wait until he starts singing like a bird re Mao Tse Murray's inner circle. Wonder if there will finally be some beads of sweat on her brow in the next FANTASTIC glossy mailer.

Jon L. September 26, 2012 at 11:51 am

Bonilla is the elected town official I hate the least. That said I think that the Town Attorney's role in this matter should not be minimized. They should have had an outside investigation all along. Either way you slice it, Charirman Mao was in the drivers seat the whole time and the gong show that is the Town of Hempstead government continues to do whatever Kate wants whenever she wants it. It's time to overthrow the government, I can only hope that this is the beginning of the end for Mao tse Murray and her "team" of imbisiles.

Robert Demarco September 26, 2012 at 11:55 am

But it does not clear the reputation. Corporations settle all the time with no admission of guilt. If he was innocent, wouldn't he want to go through the process to prove it?

Robert Demarco September 26, 2012 at 11:58 am

We all know that you are correct, but her tgrail of cronies and patronage pals and their families are enough to get her re-elected. Those of us who want the corruption to end need to show up insignificant numbers at the polls and vote her out.

Robert Demarco September 26, 2012 at 12:00 pm

From your lips to God's ears. Wouldn't that be ironic if one of her own took Murray and company down.

Robert Demarco September 26, 2012 at 12:02 pm

Don't forget that Papa Joe is probably her main advisor and mentor. Remember the campaign and his advice to stay on point, ergo the answer to every uncomfortable question was: "WE're freezing Taxes"!

Sam Livingston September 26, 2012 at 12:38 pm

Lets remember this is AMERICA and the law is simple, "a person is innocent until proven guilty" and he deserves this protection. There are always three sides to the story and so far we've only heard one. Until all the facts are out or there is a trial, he is entitled to equal protection as is the employee.

Lilly Hayden September 26, 2012 at 02:00 pm

And yes, i am saying the above with a straight face. So Lorraine, you think every single doctor who settles a malpractice suit is guilty???
For the record, "paying off" was how it was reported. Mr. Bonilla supposedly looked into the possibility of a settlement, he never once offered the money. How about wanting this farce to end quickly for the sake of his family instead of dragging it on and on? Hush money was your phrase, not mine.

Robert Demarco September 26, 2012 at 02:07 pm

Lilly, you call it a "farce". You have also drawn a conclusion that he is innocent and being set up. Instead of all this conjecture, why not wait until the DA investigation is completed. Obviously, there was enough evidence to charge Bonilla. Let's see how it plays out.

Lorraine DeVita September 26, 2012 at 02:21 pm

@ Lily- a malpractice suit is SETTLED LEGALLY with legal representation either in or out of the court. the docotr doesnt shove a suitcase full of money at the patient to make them "GO AWAY"
If this happened in business then his ass wouldhave been GRASS especially if a publicaly traded corp. YOU can lable it any way you want it is still HUSH MONEY- HUSH DONT TELL ANYONE If he is so ETHICALLY challenged to even consider doing something like this to dissuade his accusers EVEN if he is innocent then I HIGHLY question his JUDGEMENT or lack there of. He could be the best husband best father best neighbor, but a man who lacks ETHICS and good judgement should NOT be in public service. But it is not for me or you to decide it is up to a court of law to decide his vercity, and the truth of this debacle.

Brian September 26, 2012 at 02:23 pm

I think the funniest/saddest/most pathetic part of it all is how Murray and her associates all claim to be anti-government, tea-party types. Yet, here at home, they are all incredibly dependent on the government - specifically for jobs paying them 6 figures in which they do essentially nothing. Then they have the audacity to blame the President and Democrats for creating a welfare state. Well Nassau GOPtards, what living what you have if it weren't for your patrongage job? Answer is, you'd be on welfare, idiot.

Lilly Hayden September 26, 2012 at 02:30 pm

And where is it stated anywhere how it would have been done? Very likely Mr. Bonilla was asking about the possibility of settling it legally. After all, did he not supposedly consult an attorney regarding the fact? I do not consider that being unethical in the least.

Jon L. September 26, 2012 at 02:49 pm

I'm with Mr. Demarco, even though it smells like poop, we must see how the criminal matter plays out before we rush judgement on Bonilla. That aside, I think that a cover up or a set up is a reasonable conclusion but still the process exists for a reason.
At best I think that Chairman Mao and the People's Republic are guilty of bad judgement using the Town Attorney to investigate anything.

Brutally Frank September 26, 2012 at 03:02 pm

Why don't all your arm chair layers, judges and jurists hold off on this absurd salad of conjecture until he is actually tried and convicted or exonerated. In the meantime you do nothing but further sully a possibly innocent man's reputation.
Of more use would be to get Kate Murray out of office ASAP. SHE is the problem that affects all of us. Spend your energy there!

Lorraine DeVita September 26, 2012 at 03:26 pm

@Lily how naive are you exactly- when a public offical asks if paying off an accuser before this comes to light to make it go away is the right thing to do , then his judgement is suspect and his character flawed.
IF he had nothing to fear, he should have A)TOLD his wife and she should/would have counseled him to retain an attorney Rather claiming by paying off his accuser he was trying to SPARE her and his family this embarrassment. B) Retained a private cousel to advise him &to refute any claims as well as the charges he was being investigated and ultimately brought up on . whether guilty or innocent HIS ACTIONS are those of someone who has poor judgement . What I CARE about and am outraged with is the course of action he chose to take. He lacks GOOD judgement. THATS the issue i have with him ..Public figures who crumble and fumble under pressure dont belong in public office. He COMPTEMPLATED BRIBING SOMEONE> THAT alone is dispicable regardless of the reason or the spin you want to put on it. HUSH Money, Bribe, paying off, its all the same. even if this IT wasnt HIS attorney he didint seek his own counsel, he asked a TOWN attorney, compounding his

Robert Demarco September 26, 2012 at 03:34 pm

I spent considerable energy doing that last Fall, as did others, and guess what? She still had enough leaches dependent on TOH patronage to give her 67% of the vote.

Robert Demarco September 26, 2012 at 03:35 pm

Bonilla IS an attorney; he knows right, wrong, expedient, and cut your losses.

Lilly Hayden September 26, 2012 at 05:41 pm

@ Lorraine. Talk about being naive. Newsday is the one who used the phrase- making it go away. So it seems like you believe that if it is printed, it must be so.
So now you are privy to conversations between Mr. Bonilla and his wife. He does have private counsel- the same attorney who said that Mr. Bonilla was inquiring about the possibility of a settlement from any possible lawsuit.

Boris Yagudayev September 26, 2012 at 06:14 pm

I personally can't wait for the next campaign to get Kate Murray out of office. Patronage is the antithesis to democracy and the first link to oppression. Next years campaign will be a good one. Everyone should get involved now so we are organized and ready to go next year. The goal in my opinion should be to resonate with town workers who are "advised" to participate politically, that Job Security is more important to them and democrats will assure them just that. We need to lead the reform of the system of patronage, and not just do the same as been done in the past. This is why the more ideologically based of a campaign we bring about, the more lasting of a success we can have if indeed we do win, and have to reform the system of patronage, not assuring us a set number of votes each election cycle. Lets start thinking smart, planning early, and actually winning! :)

Robert Demarco September 26, 2012 at 06:53 pm

If you can come up with a way to do that, I'm in. When you factor in the patronage employee and his/her family, and asll the County party hacks, Murray has thousands of votes at the outset. It will be difficult to mobilize enough opposition. Many voters are sucked in with the publicity, mailings, etc, and do not the degree to which corruption exists in TOH.

jessica September 26, 2012 at 06:59 pm

It's been a long time unspoken secret in town hall that kate murray and mark bonilla hated one another... with no politically feasible way to remove a Republican latino from a future ballot ... these charges seem way too convenient! I hope Bonilla fights this tooth and nail (oh and fyi - the town attorney and his office are a cesspool of illegal activity and political cronyism at its worst!)

Jon L. September 26, 2012 at 07:35 pm

Jessica- I tried not the bring it down there but since you mentioned it. I don't trust that shyster any further then I can throw him. My lack of trust for the Town Attorney's office is only slightly smaller than that of my contempt of Chairman Mao and her regime.

Sue V September 27, 2012 at 06:08 pm

Vote Kate Murry out and bring in the demacrates because there so honest an true. look at Siver and his cronnys in N.Y. city

Robert Demarco September 27, 2012 at 06:54 pm

Your point is well-taken, but the TOH is so corrupt for so long that a purge of all these Republicans will be good for the Town. Nassau County and TOH are probably the last real political machines in the country. The Democrats are no angels, but a sweep of the dirt in TOH is needed.

Citizen Kane September 29, 2012 at 01:24 pm

After reading all of the updated and adjusted stories of this past week in Newsday, I am deepened toward a much bigger question? The recently intensified attempt at nobility by the Town of Hempstead seems artificially magnified from the norm and should not go unnoticed. Most of us, due to media brainwashing and conditioning never seem to follow these stories. We become dumb down by their confusive evolution and then lose interest. I completely understand the urgency here which is top priority, but I wonder where that urgency has been otherwise to the equal, if not greater injustices of the past? I am not a fan of Mr. Bonilla’s for my own personal reasons however; I can certainly separate those feelings from “what is justice”, by reserving judgment until all that facts are in. When others read of the injustices regarding the Town of Hempstead, I would suggest they be received in good faith, and perhaps as more factual than fictional. When this Town of Hempstead divisional scandal is over, there will likely be another from the initiated rekindling of the past, and one getting closer to the core of the machine. I believe that day is “soon to be here.”
I have no political or financial interest in the “Patch,” but I would like to acknowledge their contribution to Long Island as a credible the news source, and for their complete and comprehensive coverage. They are the community pulse of Long Island.

john g ginkle himer schmit September 29, 2012 at 06:22 pm

hey ya got one thing right ... a large majority of this country is severly brainwashed and dumbed down ... believe me its not normal that the new statistic is that most people only use 3 % of there brain ...probably because there watching jersey shore all day and going to the bars at night

Daryl October 11, 2012 at 11:07 am

I guess I am one of those oddballs that have been on the receiving end of sexual harassment ( the "alleged" perpetrator being a somewhat matronly woman old enough to be my mother, an ordained minister with a worldwide ministry ). Horrible position to be in to try and "prove" the allegations when the harasser is in a position of power.