Political Corruption Roundup in Monmouth County

[Kire]

Political Corruption Roundup in Monmouth County: 11 Sitting and Former Public Officials Charged with Extortion

NEWARK - Eleven sitting and former Monmouth County public officials - including the current mayors of Keyport, Hazlet and West Long Branch - were arrested today, charged with extorting cash bribes and free work from a contractor who was cooperating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie and FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph Billy, Jr. announced.

In an unprecedented roundup of public officials in a single New Jersey county in a single day, FBI agents made the arrests early this morning, acting on arrest warrants signed Friday with the filing of eight Criminal Complaints under seal in federal court. The arrests are part of a long-running undercover investigation during which Monmouth County public officials accepted and sought to perpetuate corrupt payments from the contractor.

"What we discovered is that this was business as usual across a surprisingly wide swath of Monmouth County, where an attitude of greed, arrogance and entitlement prevailed," Christie said. "These complaints portray a shocking eagerness and ease with which these public officials engaged in criminal activity, to trade contracts for cash or even to be involved in money laundering."

"I can assure you that we and the FBI are not done in Monmouth County," Christie added.

More: http://www.politicsnj.com/christie022205.htm

[Kire]

1. From the "I wish I hadn't said that" department:

"I am greatly pleased and honored to have the endorsement of Mayor Merla who has consistently placed the interests of the people he represents ahead of his own. Mayor Merla's endorsement helps us send a message to the Democrats in Trenton that the days of waste, fraud and abuse are over. It is time to put an end to the culture of corruption and to return sound fiscal management to Trenton."

-- Douglas R. Forrester, in a February 3, 2004 press release announcing John Merla's endorsement. Hazlet Mayor Paul Coughlin endorsed John Murphy the same day.

[LiberalCompassionate]

2. I suppose

Mayor Merla won't be "Freeholder Merla" anytime soon.:)

Forrester is such a loser.

Corzine is going to win big, especially after this. It's about time the Repuglican machine in Monmouth County gets its comeuppance.

[Kire]

3. I enjoy kicking guys when they're down.

Especially when they're Republicans running for Governor in my state.

[Kire]

4. Forrester is "disappointed to hear about today’s events. "

Interesting choice of words.

DOUG FORRESTER FOR GOVERNOR

"We are disappointed to hear about today’s events. These are serious allegations and we are confident that the authorities will conduct a full and thorough investigation," said Forrester spokesperson John Radziejewski. "This problem affects all levels of government and is the reason Doug Forrester has been taking the lead in calling for an independent auditor general and serious, meaningful ethics reform to relieve the hard-working families of New Jersey of the corruption tax that costs us millions of dollars each year."

http://www.politicsnj.com/forrester022205.htm

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Didja read the Star-Ledger acount of this...

where the motivation seems to have been Christie taking umbrage at the Monmouth County DA saying his county was squeaky clean, compared to most of the others.

Christie's reaction was something along the lines of ""Oh, yeah! Well I'll show you." And show him he did.

Now, if he were to turn his attention to Camden, Hudson, and Union counties...

Nah, that would be real work, and those prosecutors couldn't say it with a straight face.