Steve Rattner and “Chooch”

Auto task force chief Steve Rattner is facing questions about his involvement with alleged pay to play dealings in New York, according to this report.

Top aides have said they were aware of issues in the backgrounds of several high-profile appointees, including Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and one-time Health and Human Services nominee Tom Daschle, before Obama nominated them.

Geithner survived questions about his failure to pay taxes, but questions about Daschle’s use of a limousine doomed his nomination.

An earlier article gives some context on Steve Rattner:

Rattner is among several executives whose conduct was examined by state and federal officials as part of Cuomo’s investigation into whether top aides to former Comptroller Alan Hevesi took bribes from investment firms seeking deals with the pension fund.

Rattner’s company, the Quadrangle Group, paid more than $1.1 million in “finder’s fees” to one of those aides, political consultant Hank Morris.

A film distribution company owned by Quadrangle also paid $88,841 to acquire the DVD rights to “Chooch,” a comedy set in Queens and Mexico that had been produced by the brother of the pension fund’s chief investment officer, David Loglisci.

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