Free Republic

State union leader Carla Katz's scholarship from Seton Hall Law School is now part of an inquiry ordered by North Jersey's Roman Catholic leader, who raised questions about donations made by her former boyfriend -- Governor Corzine. On Friday, Archbishop of Newark John Myers, who is chairman of the board at the Catholic university, directed the law school to make the review, a spokesman said. The request came after Myers learned of Katz's scholarship and Corzine's donations to the university, said John Goodness, a spokesman for the Newark Archdiocese. "Just because this issue has come up, it is just incumbent...

U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie announced this week that he would not pursue corruption allegations against New Jersey's top political boss because of bungling by the state Attorney General's Office. But this scandal cannot end there. Just who is responsible for the botched investigation, and how will they be held accountable? Is this just another case of politics as usual in the Garden State? Governor Corzine's choice for state attorney general, Zulima Farber, has said she'll make corruption her top priority. And Mr. Christie has pointed out the state still has two years to reexamine the Norcross case before the state...

A lawyer for reputed mobster Angelo Prisco communicated with then-Gov. James E. McGreevey's chief of staff, Gary B. Taffet, before Prisco's unexpected parole from prison, according to a published report. Controversy has surrounded the unusual way Prisco was paroled in 2002, although state prosecutors cleared a different senior McGreevey official of improperly intervening in the reputed mobster's early release. This is the first time Taffet's name has been publicly mentioned in the case. In a May 7, 2002, letter obtained by Gannett New Jersey, politically connected lawyer Donald Scarinci told Taffet it was "very important" that the State Parole Board...

Police Officers Steal From Police Department 10/25/2000 A former West New York police sergeant pleaded guilty today, admitting his role in a scheme to steal approximately $60,000 seized by police during the investigation of a fire in West New York, U.S. Attorney Robert J. Cleary announced. Ronald Riccie, 58, of Little Ferry, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Simandle to a one-count Information, charging him with participating with other West New York Police officers in the theft of the $60,000. http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/releases/2000/ri1025_r.html Eminent Domain Squabble 02/22/2003 Rowan University and Wal-Mart squabbled over 102 acres of land. Last fall, Rowan...

RAHWAY, N.J. (AP) - A year after his life imploded in scandal, former New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey lives in self-imposed exile, avoiding the limelight he spent a lifetime chasing. Separated from the wife he betrayed, McGreevey lives modestly in a one-bedroom apartment. He takes his 3-year-old daughter out for bacon and eggs after Sunday church services, walks to a corner newsstand for coffee and newspapers and stops to chat when passers-by recognize him. It's a long way from the stately governor's mansion and the spotlight that shone on his soul-baring confession. With wife Dina Matos McGreevey at his...

In 1998.....Kay Elizabeth LiCausi, a 26-year-old graduate of Rutgers....started a job as scheduler.......for Representative Robert Menendez (D-NJ).....who was soon to become the highest-ranking Hispanic member of Congress. She quickly gained his trust, and less than three years later was promoted to director of his NJ headquarters. But in 2002..... Ms. LiCausi left his staff. Since then.......She has amassed hundreds of thousands of dollars in contracts as consultant, lobbyist and fund-raiser. Some of the work was orchestrated by Mr. Menendez, who steered more than $200,000 worth of political consulting and fund-raising contracts her way. Several of her clients are businesses and...

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UMDNJ lobbyist may face conflict Christy Davis-Jackson was hired last August to serve as a $156,000 vice president and full-time legislative lobbyist for the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.While on the public payroll, though, Davis-Jackson continues to be registered with the state as a private lobbyist representing business clients that include a casino industry association - an outside interest that UMDNJ officials said would violate their conflict-of-interest policy.UMDNJ on Thursday said Davis-Jackson reported to them in August that she had "discontinued her interest" in her firm - Davis & Partners LLC on Halsey Street in Newark. But...

TRENTON, N.J. -- A Democratic fund-raiser linked to Gov. James E. McGreevey extorted $40,000 in campaign donations by promising a farmer that public officials would help him get more money for development rights to his land, federal authorities said Tuesday. David D'Amiano is charged with extortion, mail fraud and bribery. According to an indictment released Tuesday, D'Amiano told the owner of a Piscataway farm he would not get premium value for his property unless he made donations to the Democratic Party. Middlesex County officials had offered Mark Halper $3 million for development rights to his 74-acre family farm. After D'Amiano...

Democratic fund-raiser indicted on extortion chargesBy JOHN P. McALPIN The Associated Press 7/6/2004, 6:02 p.m. ET TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A Democratic fund-raiser linked to Gov. James E. McGreevey extorted $40,000 in campaign donations by promising a farmer that public officials would help him get top dollar for his land, federal authorities said Tuesday. Carteret businessman David D'Amiano is charged with extortion, mail fraud and bribery. According to an indictment released Tuesday, D'Amiano told the owner of a Piscataway farm he would not get premium value for his property unless he made donations to the Democratic Party. Middlesex County officials...