The Texas woman charged with drumming up cash for Rep. Michael Grimm through straw donors insists she has no problem being represented by lawyers who remain close pals with the embattled Staten Island pol.
Brooklyn federal Judge Sterling Johnson asked Diana Durand if she was aware of the potential conflict of interest and ordered her to speak privately with an independent attorney who summarized the potentially problematic arrangement.
But the single mom – who once dated Grimm – insisted on keeping Stuart Kaplan and Joseph Sconzo as her lawyers. Grimm and the lawyers were buddies when all three were FBI agents.
Congressman Michael Grimm (center) leaves federal court after an indictment hearing in Brooklyn on April 28.EPAThe feds say Durand improperly raised $10,600 for her former beau and has refused to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for a plea deal.
The Houston woman has already pleaded not guilty to a three-count indictment charging her with felony violations of federal campaign finance law.
Kaplan has claimed that she didn’t know her straw donor tactics were illegal because she is not a “sophisticated” woman.
Grimm is facing charges related to his ownership of a Manhattan restaurant including tax evasion, fraud, perjury and hiring undocumented workers.
He has yet to be charged with any campaign finance-related malfeasance.
