The Manhattan DA's office has subpoenaed DC-based Occupy Wall Street protester Jeff Rae's Twitter account from September 15 through October 31. "I was a little bit blown away," Rae told Reuters. "It's interesting that in places like Egypt our leaders applaud people for using Twitter and social media for their movements. Here, I'm being subpoenaed for using social media." But Jeff, unlike New York City, Egypt is frozen in a police state bent against demonstrations and civil liberties. more ›

Just a friendly reminder that police officers are carefully monitoring your comments on the Internets, so you should probably refrain from threatening to kill anybody. Just sayin! Idiotic death threats are a clear violation of the Gothamist comment policy, and we will not hesitate to cooperate with the NYPD if you're making such threats. A few days ago Gothamist publisher Jake Dobkin was subpoenaed by the NYPD over this threatening comment, seen above. Dobkin explains what happened next: more ›

Investigators researching the controversial selection of a politically-connected casino operator to run slot machines at the Aqueduct Racetrack are expected to subpoena Jay Z, Russell Simmons, and influential reverend and former Congressman Floyd Flake. According to the Post, Jay-Z and Flake are partners in Aqueduct Entertainment Group—the casino company that Gov. Paterson chose for the contract even though it initially said it would generate the least revenue, before drastically changing its estimates. Simmons reportedly was an advisor to Penn National Gaming, a losing bidder. Dozens of others are expected be questioned about the deal, including bidders who were passed over in favor or AEG. more ›

Following Gov. Paterson's controversial selection of Aqueduct Entertainment Group to operate video slot machines at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, federal prosecutors have reportedly seized records related to the politically-connected winning bidder. Investigators are researching ties between Aqueduct Entertainment Group and a Queens nonprofit, which was last in the news for allegedly fleecing Hurricane Katrina victims out of money raised on their behalf. more ›

Is this further proof that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's investigation into State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. is heating up? Yesterday Cuomo's office served Espada's son, Pedro G. Espada, and two other employees of Espada's for-profit company with subpoenas to force them to testify before investigators next week. Cuomo is investigating whether Espada used money from the non-profit to help finance his political campaigns. Pedro G., who manages one of the non-profits, was also the guy Espada tried to install in a vague $120K Senate Job back in August, a move that swiftly ended in Pedro G.'s resignation after a public outcry. A source in the AG's office tells the Post, "Espada claims to be cooperating, but there are problems every step of the way." Why are we not surprised? more ›

A week after Attorney General Andrew Cuomo subpoenaed State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., the AG's office finally revealed details about the fruit of their long, nine month investigation into the scofflaw senator. "Portions of a potential legal case against Espada were outlined this morning in a bombshell filing Cuomo's office made in Manhattan Supreme Court that asked a judge to compel Espada to cooperate with a subpoena," writes Elizabeth Benjamin at the Daily News. Is it too soon to start hoping Christmas will come early this year, with Santa tossing Espada behind bars? Today's filing has us hearing sleigh bells, and Espada hearing a witch hunt. more ›

On Tuesday, when "Bronxchester" Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. got caught blocking a fire hydrant with an illegal police parking placard, we took the opportunity to wonder what the hell was happening with the long-simmering investigation into how Espada runs his non-profit. Well, we don't want to take all the credit, but on the very next day Attorney General Andrew Cuomo finally subpoenaed Espada—after launching the investigation nine months ago. Good probes take time? Naturally Espada says this is just a political attack. more ›

The horse racing organization that threatened to cancel the Belmont Stakes due to monetary woes will be subpoenaed for refusing to open its books. The state is skeptical of the New York Racing Association's claims that it doesn't have enough money to hold the final leg of the Triple Crown, because the organization was awarded $105 million in taxpayer money and had its $200 million debt erased last year, according to the Daily News. more ›

The U.S. Attorney's Office won't need Mary-Kate Olsen to testify because it has closed its investigation into how Heath Ledger obtained painkillers which contributed to his death. Rumors swirled about MKO's involvement and how she would only talk if given immunity, leading her lawyer to proclaim, "Mary-Kate Olsen had nothing whatsoever to do with the drugs found in Heath Ledger's home or his body, and she does not know where he obtained them" and that she had cooperated with the government. A source summed up the feds' interest in the actress to the Daily News, "We don't know where [Ledger] got the other narcotics. No one interviewed suggested (Olsen) gave him the drugs. But (Olsen) may have known where the drugs came from." more ›

UPDATE: Everybody listen up! Mary-Kate Olsen has just issued a statement:

Despite tabloid speculation, Mary-Kate Olsen had nothing whatsoever to do with the drugs found in Heath Ledger's home or his body, and she does not know where he obtained them. more ›

Albany county attorney general P. David Soares is taking another stab at the Troopergate scandal by issuing subpoenas for Gov. Spitzer's e-mails to and from his aides, as well as e-mails between aides. Troopergate centered around accusations that Spitzer and/or his top aides used state police to essentially spy on Spitzer's primary foe in Albany--state senate leader Joseph Bruno. The first Troopergate investigation resulted in the resignation of Spitzer's communications director Darren Dopp. The broad subpoena recently delivered to the Spitzer administration seeks public and private e-mails that may show the Governor pressured Dopp to perjure himself during a sworn statement. more ›