At a press conference today, a former Bogota, New Jersey Mayor (Mr. Lonergan), charged Anne Milgram with politically motivated attacks against the First Amendment in the aftermath of Lonergan's arrest for handing out leaflets against Governor's Corzine's rate increases. Ms. Milgram and the Corzine Administration have often been accused of deliberate violations of civil liberties, censorship, politically motivated legal actions and worse. Does this sound familiar? (See "Censorship and Cruelty in New Jersey.")
It is irrelevant whether I agree or disagree with Mr. Lonergan's opinions. The First Amendment protects the opinions we hate as much as those that we share. January 25, 2008 at 2:45 P.M. I cannot access my e-mail at my home account. There are also many difficulties posting essays today. I will continue to run scans. (See "What is it like to be tortured?")
Jeremy W. Peters, "Ex-Senator Can't Use Campaign Fund in Legal Case," in The New York Times, January 24, 2008, at p. B6.
"TRENTON -- A former state senator in New Jersey who is facing federal fraud and corruption charges" -- which of the many corrupt N.J. senators do you mean? -- "cannot use money in his campaign account to pay for his criminal defense, [you mean, his "costs"?] a state commission said on Wednesday in a ruling that could establish a precedent for public officials and candidates facing criminal charges."
It is amazing what a little publicity can accomplish. No wonder the Jersey Boys like to detain or confine (torture?) journalists. No wonder they attack these writings. They almost had their hands on that cash, then all the press coverage made the dispersal of the loot politically ... "impossible."
"Although Mr. Bryant's case was the only one before the commission, the ruling would appear to block several other former state legislators who are facing criminal charges" -- this may be bad news for Senator Bob, who is investing in Malox at this time -- "from using their campaign reserves to defend themselves."
Senator Robert "Bob" Menendez continues to insist, through spokespeople, that he "represents all the people of New Jersey in a glorious coalition."
"Another former state senator Sharpe James of Newark, and two former state assemblymen, Alfred E. Steele of Paterson and Mims Hacket, Jr. of Orange, have been accused of criminal wrongdoing. A third former state senator, Joseph Coniglio of Bergen County, [a.k.a. "Big Joe"] has been told that he is the target of a federal investigation."
"State campaign finance records show that of the former lawmakers who have criminal cases hanging over them, only Mr. Coniglio has used his campaign war chest to pay lawyers, in August and September, he paid $90,000 to Krovatin & Associates, a Newark firm that specializes in racketeering and corruption cases."
Where's the OAE to ask these lawyers specializing in "racketeering and corruption" why they charged so much money up front? What have they done with the money? How is it being used? Why did they not charge a less exhorbitant sum? Such inquiries -- directed at Latino lawyers receiving much lower fees -- are not unusual in New Jersey. I wonder why that is? How much do such attorneys need to kick back to the OAE, Stuart, in order to left alone? Political contributions?
"[Coniglio] did not seek an opinion from the commission before making the payments."
Bryant's mistake was in asking for the rubber stamp, allowing the ... eh, "shenanigans" to make into the newspapers. "Hey, don't we have friends on the newspapers no more?" Comments such as these have been heard this week in the corridors of power in Trenton. (See "Jay Romano and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey.")
"Federal prosecutors have said that Mr. Bryant, 60, arranged a $37,000-a-year job for himself at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey -- in addition to his $49,000 salary as a state senator -- in exchange for steering millions of dollars in grants to the school."
Mr. Bryant is a lawyer (like Paul Bergrin), but is still not facing ethics charges according to news coverage. Mr. Bryant is not a "bad apple," according to New Jersey's OAE officials, who are very good apples indeed. (See "New Jersey's legal System is a Whore House" and "One of New Jersey's Highly Ethical Attorneys Has a Problem.")
"... Mr. Bryant was paid by the university to lobby himself, prosecutors have said."
No conflict of interest, huh? What does your rule book say, John?
