"The federal inquiry into Coniglio is part of a broader investigation by federal officials into whether legislators have benefitted from grant money inserted into the state budget without public review since 2002." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21902199/
Hey, Joe ... whadda-ya, getting greedy? Geez. Leave a little something for the people. He, he, he ...
"The U.S. Attorney's Office has in recent months subpoenaed records from legislators and legislative staff about Coniglio and Hackensack University Medical Center, where Coniglio was paid $5,000.00 per month as a 'plumbing and construction consultant' [laughter was heard at this title] from 2004 to 2006. During that span, the hospital received more than $1.6 MILLION in state funding."
Quid pro quo, Joe? It is undisputed that this state funding was procured with the "influence" of good old Joe Coniglio. Although there is nothing to indicate whether or how much was coming back to "Big Joe" under the table -- in addition to this $5,000 on the books -- or what other ... "expressions of gratitude" were provided by the administrators at Hackensack Hospital, if any. No doubt "Big Joe" got a Christmas card and fruit basket. (New "error" inserted and corrected.) Maybe more. Annoying phone calls from 760-526-8112 on November 26, 2007 at 12:40 P.M. Probably just a coincidence.
"The investigation into Coniglio comes after two state assemblymen were among 11 public officials arrested in September for alleged bribe taking and two senators were indicted on federal corruption charges earlier this year."
"Coniglio has been in the Senate since 2002, serving on the influential Senate budget committee. He served on the Paramus council from 1981 to 1990 and is a project manager for a plumbing and electrical contracting firm."
Senator Coniglio was part of a ... "crew" that became influential in New Jersey, during the eighties and nineties, including prominent figures such as Peter Veniero, a former New Jersey Attorney General who (as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would say, "for some reason") served on the state Supreme Court, whose career and tenure both on the court and as A.G. remain tainted by allegations of participation in racial profiling and even designing the racist policy that has disgraced the state police and courts in the most corrupt state in the nation, New Jersey:
"... Peter Veniero has come under fire for allegedly misrepresenting [i.e., LYING, 'allegedly,' concerning] his knowledge of racial profiling by the state police during his tenure as attorney general." (No OAE action has been or is pending against Mr. Veniero, who is deemed "highly ethical" by Trenton's legal establishment, as are Paul Bergrin and Wayne R. Bryant.)
John McAlpin, "McGreevey: Quality of New Jersey's High Court is Diluted," Newark Star Ledger, April 27, 2002 and http://www.brennancenter.org/programs/pester/pages/view_elerts.php?elert_id=1931&print=1 4/14/2006 ("Feces-Covered?")
All of this news concerning corruption was accompanied by the happy anouncement that "N.J. Tolls Could Increase by 75 percent in 2010" because the Jersey Boys need to steal a little more from the tax-paying "chumps." That's you. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21902199
Former Chief Justice Zazzali was also associated with racial profiling, although Zazzali was more successful in distancing himself from the practice, suffering a memory lapse when questioned about it. "Say what?"
I saw Zazzali in action, as it were, conducting a hearing on behalf of a common client, who expressed the wish that I might represent him at that hearing. No doubt Zazzali would deny that today. Zazzali lost that hearing and the client was less than pleased with his cross-examination skills. I wonder whether the OAE showed up at Zazzali's office to question Zazzali's competence or the effectiveness of the assistance of counsel provided to that litigant. I doubt it. That stuff is for minority attorneys who refuse to make payoffs.
Zazzali certainly seemed to prepare thoroughly during approximately ten minutes before the hearing. I doubt that Zazzali or his firm returned the fee received for that representation, which was no doubt substantial, but he was probably not questioned about that, allegedly, "unconscionable greed" by the OAE, or treated with insulting rudeness and disdain by OAE imbeciles, most of whom have never tried a case outside their club and would not know how to do so if their lives depended on it. By far the most despicable low-lifes I encountered in law practice were so-called "ethics officials" in New Jersey.
What relationship, if any, existed or exists between Zazzali and Diana Lisa Riccioli at that time (or at this time) is not known to me. Perhaps they play canasta.
Other alleged members of this legal "crew" include Maurice J. Gallipoli, Jaynee La Vecchia, and many prominent members of the N.J. Bar Association (of all ethnicities), about whom I will write at greater length and in excruciating detail during the months and years ahead. Only one new "error" inserted by hackers since my last review of this essay? Thanks to the feds, they're dropping like flies.
