Battisti, Korchak Discuss Filing of “False Indictment”

Republican Broome County district attorney candidate Paul Battisti accused his opponent of filing what he described as a "fake felony indictment." Chief assistant DA Michael Korchak said the issue amounted to a paperwork problem.

At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Battisti contended Korchak signed an indictment even though the district attorney's office had stated there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.

Battisti said he is calling on New York state Attorney General Letitia James to investigate the matter.

Battisti said an assistant DA on May 23 advised Broome County Court that there was insufficient evidence in the case involving a possible charge of intimidating a witness or victim. He said Korchak signed an indictment that same day and filed it with the court May 28. The indictment was dismissed a few days later.

Speaking with reporters, Korchak said the "paperwork was filed in error." He said he reviews certain documents "for legal sufficiency and legal accuracy."

Korchak said "unfortunately, there was a clerical error." He said the "documents were not supposed to be filed with the court but they were." He said the district attorney's office "caught the error and corrected it."

Korchak said no one was arrested or charged with a crime. He said "it's false to say it was a fake indictment."

Korchak and Battisti are facing each other in the June 25 Republican primary.

Debra Gelson is running as the Democratic candidate for Broome County district attorney.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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