WHAT: Powerful Brooklyn Sen. Carl Kruger, former Senate Finance Committee chairman, was charged by federal prosecutors with taking more than $1 million in exchange for helping a lobbyist’s clients gain desired legislative results.

WHY IT’S OUTRAGEOUS: U.S. Attorney Breet Bharara called this case “a broad-based bribery racket reflecting an unholy alliance of politicians, lobbyists and businessmen.” Kruger, a Democrat, had been a senator since 1994.

HOW: Eight people were charged in the influence-peddling ring. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison. This is only the latest in a string of major corruption cases rocking Albany.