Ruth Madoff Catches a Break
Ruth Madoff can breathe a little bit easier today. According to the Post, Bernie Madoff's wife will not be prosecuted for having any role in her husband's Ponzi scheme, since federal prosecutors "lack evidence that she was either aware of or involved in Bernard Madoff's scam." And here we were thinking that the $15.5 million she withdrew from her brokerage accounts in the weeks before Madoff's arrest was a little bit suspicious!
Of course, it's possible that the feds are just giving her the impression she's off the hook so they can wait for her to make a mistake: "Sources cautioned that authorities could change their minds if they discover new, incriminating evidence against the 68-year-old Upper East Side matron." And just because Ruth is safe for the time being does not mean any of her society privileges will be returned to her. We're guessing the Pierre Michel salon still isn't interested in tending to her "Soft Baby Blonde" highlights. And this doesn't change the fact that she won't be welcome back at Sette Mezzo on the Upper East Side until she pays the $160 she owes for a dinner back in December.
But there is some good news for the woman who has been having trouble finding a building willing to accept her now that she's been forced to sell the penthouse she shared with Bernie on East 64th Street. The Post goes on to mention that hedge fund manager Ezra Merkin, who steered more than $2 billion to Bernie's firm, is "laying the groundwork to sell his 18-room duplex at 740 Park Ave." Maybe they can look for a new place together and split the expenses?
