The former cop who
at his bribery trial has blanketed the city with 80 subpoenas, including 42 summonses to his onetime NYPD colleagues.
Ex-Deputy Lt. James Grant has subpoenaed current and former cops to take the stand at his trial next week, including former Chief of Department Philip Banks, sources said.
Defense lawyer John Meringolo is seeking the cops’ testimony to show that what Grant is accused of — trading police favors for gifts — is nothing new at the NYPD, sources said.
Indeed, the government’s key witness, de Blasio donor Jona Rechnitz, has testified that he showered gifts on many high-ranking officers, including Grant, Banks, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and Banks’ former deputy Michael Harrington, who has pleaded guilty to administrative wrongdoing.
Banks’ lawyer, Ben Brafman, said his client plans to plead the Fifth and will appear only if ordered by the court, sources said.
Lawyers for the city are moving to squash the mayor’s subpoena, calling it a “fishing expedition.”
A judge will hear arguments on the issue Friday.
Grant goes on trial Monday in Manhattan federal court, along with de Blasio donor Jeremy Reichberg, on charges that he fixed traffic tickets and did favors for Rechnitz and Reichberg in exchange for lavish gifts, including a trip on a private plane to LA with a hooker.
