Larry Neumeister reports for the Associated Press in the Albany Times Union that the corruption trial of a former aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo began Jan. 22 at federal court in Manhattan. Jury selection began on the first day, and opening statements were expected Jan. 23 in the case of Joseph Percoco and several co-defendants, who pleaded not guilty to charges of bid-rigging and bribery related to state economic development projects. Cuomo is not charged and is not expected to testify. But that has not stopped state Republicans from starting a digital ad campaign against Democrat Cuomo, using the trial to make their case, the New York Daily News reported.