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Protesters March Against Peralta Amid Reports He Got $12K in Fraudulent Pay

By Katie Honan | May 12, 2017 1:13pm | Updated on May 12, 2017 3:10pm
 Sen. Peralta left the Democrats to join an independent conference this winter. 
Sen. Peralta left the Democrats to join an independent conference this winter. 
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DNAinfo/Katie Honan

JACKSON HEIGHTS — Protesters plan to march on Sen. Jose Peralta's office this weekend in protest of his alliance with the Republican-aligned Independent Democratic Conference, just as a new report emerged he received thousands in additional money through false payroll information submitted by the GOP.

The groups, No IDC NY and the New Visions Democratic Club — which kicked Peralta out as a member after he joined the IDC — were already scheduled to march at noon on May 13 from the post office on 37th Avenue and 78th Street to the senator's office on Junction Boulevard.

They said they planned the march to stop the IDC from empowering "the Trump agenda" in New York.
"Now that the budget has passed, we see how many issues that affect our families and communities must be resolved," organizers wrote in the Facebook event page.

But on Thursday, the New York Times revealed that Peralta, along with colleagues in the IDC, got thousands of dollars in taxpayer money from the state after GOP officials submitted fraudulent paperwork claiming they were the chair of committees that were actually led by Republican senators.

Peralta received a $12,500 stipend this year, his office said.

That included at least $9,375 he was paid for serving as chair of the energy committee, which was chaired by someone else, the Times found, citing documents obtained by the Freedom of Information Act.

In fact, Peralta is actually the vice-chair of the energy committee.

Peralta's office pointed out that he made a smaller stipend this year than he did last year as minority whip. His spokesman declined to discuss the Times allegations that he received money for positions he did not hold.

“There are no allegations against Senator Peralta who is not involved in the filing of allowances, which is spelled out in statute," IDC spokeswoman Candice Giove said. "These allowances are certified and paid out by the State Comptroller.”

READ MORE 
► Sen. Jose Peralta Called 'Traitor' at Town Hall About Move to IDC
Sen. Peralta Kicked Out of Democratic Club in Latest Fallout Over IDC Move

CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this story misstated the stipend amount Peralta was paid.