NY lawmaker and son plead not guilty to embezzling from health network

The Pedro Espada Jr. who entered a federal courtroom in Brooklyn on Wednesday afternoon appeared as a besieged figure, his face drawn and his manner subdued as a judge arraigned him and a son on embezzlement and conspiracy charges.

Mr. Espada, a Democrat who has served as the State Senate majority leader, and the son, Pedro Gautier Espada, each pleaded not guilty to five charges of siphoning more than half a million dollars in federal money from the network of Bronx health care clinics Mr. Espada founded and spending it on meals, theater tickets and a lavish birthday party, among other expenses.