David Kocieniewski, "Ex-State Senator Is Charged With Extortion," in The New York Times, February 15, 2008, at p. B6.
"NEWARK -- A former New Jersey legislator was indicted on extortion charges in federal court Thursday, accused of using his position on the State Senate Budget Committee to steer millions of tax dollars to a hospital in exchange for more than $100,000 in consulting fees, prosecutors said."
"The former lawmaker JOSEPH CONIGLIO, a Democrat from Paramus who took office in 2002, is charged with funneling the money through a firm he set up after he was appointed to the powerful Budget Committee in 2004."
"The sole client of the firm, VJC Consulting, was Hackensack University Medical Center, which paid $5,000 a month for 'hospital relations,' a field in which Mr. Coniglio, a licensed plumber by trade, had no expertise, according to the United States attorney, Christopher J. Christie." (emphasis added)
"The 26-page indictment charges that Mr. Coniglio was actually selling his influence on the Budget Committee and was being paid to help the hospital win grants from various state agencies and support special requests for money, which are referred to as Christmas Tree items at the State House in Trenton."
I take it that we need not worry about "testicular fortitude" (regardless of gender) at the U.S. Justice Department. Point taken in New Jersey. There's more coming, boys and girls. (See "Jaynee LaVecchia and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey" and "Jay Romano and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey.")
"... 'The allegations against Senator Coniglio in this indictment paint a disgraceful picture of exchanging public tax dollars for personal gain,' Mr. Christie said in a news conference after the indictment was anounced. 'The public has had more than enough of this type of conduct.' ..."
I consider these remarks "temperate" considering that the Jersey Boys (also regardless of gender) have been going for Mr. Christie's head. Rumors suggesting that Barbara Buono and other prominent elected officials in the Garden State -- including a few old Bob Menendez buddies in Union City -- are high on the Justice Department's "to do List" are unconfirmed at this time and can neither be denied nor admitted by anyone. Mr. Christie will not comment on allegations that he discovered a severed horse's head in his bed this morning.
Senator Bob stated through a spokesperson that he is, generally, "against crime."
"Mr. Coniglio appeared here before Michael Shipp, a United States Magistrate" -- reputedly, Mr. Shipp is a remarkably "chipper" fellow, fond of reading occasional mysteries and delighting in bridge playing on alternate weekends -- "and was released on a $250,000 bond. Although he declined to take questions from reporters as he left the courthouse, his lawyer said Mr. Coniglio was innocent of the charges and had supported the hospital before and after he was on the Budget Committee."
Cash up front, Mr. Shyster. What did Coniglio get in "consulting fees" before he was on the Committee? When he got on the committee did he suddenly become much wiser about hospital management issues?
Coniglio's response: "Whatta ya wanna know that fer? Geez ..."
"Mr. Coniglio is one of five Democratic New Jersey legislators to have faced corruption charges in the past year, and the first to face charges in a federal investigation of how and why Christmas Tree items end up in the state budget."
N.J. Bar Association Ethics Committees are even more corrupt entities, with political favors flying back and forth -- favors having more to do with outcomes and dispositions than either the law or facts. (See "New Jersey's 'Ethical' Legal System" and "Maurice J. Gallipoli and Conduct unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey.") Ethics?
"... Mr. Coniglio, 65, was charged with nine counts of extortion, and according to Jeffrey Chiesa, an assistant United States attorney, each charge carries a possible penalty of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine. He ended his reelection bid in September, after learning that he was likely to face indictment."
We will see each other again.
