Judge won't throw out NYC mayor's money case

A political operative charged with bilking New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg out of more than $1 million has lost a bid to have the case thrown out.

A Manhattan judge denied John Haggerty's request Tuesday. Haggerty has pleaded not guilty to charges including grand larceny.

The judge also barred those involved from talking to reporters about the case.

Prosecutors say Haggerty got the Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent mayor to give $1.1 million to the state Independence Party for a 2009 partywide poll-watching effort. Bloomberg was running for re-election at the time.

The party paid Haggerty $750,000. It's not charged with any crime.

Prosecutors say Haggerty used the money to buy a house and pay personal expenses instead of mounting the anti-election-fraud project.

His lawyers say he did his job.