The second accused mayor In New Jersey corruption scandal resigns
From Sunshine Review
July 31, 2009 The corruption ring scandal that was recently uncovered in New Jersey involved a few government officials, including a New Jersey major who resigned on 31 July 2009.[1]
[edit] Hoboken mayor
Last week, Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, 32, was arrested and accused of taking $25,000 in bribes. Friday he resigned, less than a month after he was sworn in.
There were 40 people arrested in the ground breaking New Jersey scandal after a federal probe uncovered the political corruption, human organ sales and money laundering linking New York and Israel.
The public officials accused in the scandal face charges of taking bribes in exchange for helping to get permits and projects prioritized and approved. They are also charged with steering contracts to the witness.
"Regrettably, it has turned out that the controversy surrounding the charges against me has become a distraction to me and an impediment to the functioning of Hoboken government," Cammarano, a Democrat, said in his resignation letter.
"I am innocent of any criminal charges and I intend to fight the allegations against me."
[edit] Commarano was second to quit
Another mayor, Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell, resigned on Tuesday, yet a third accused mayor, Anthony Suarez, remains in office in Ridgefield. Both are Democrats and are accused of accepting bribes amounting to $10,000.
According to Elwell's lawyer, Jeffrey Garrigan, his resignation was not an admission of guilt. They plan to fight the charges.
The opinion of Gov. Jon Corzine, also a Democrat, is that all officials swept up in the probe should resign. A state assemblymen, a deputy mayor, city council members, housing, planning and zoning officials, building inspectors and political candidates are all among those arrested in the probe.
The investigation was conducted over a decade and exposed public officials allowing themselves to be influenced and bribed along with a separate multimillion dollar money-laundering ring. The laundering ring funneled funds through charities manned by local rabbis.
On Tuesday Jack Shaw, 61, was found dead in a suspected suicide in his Jersey City home. He was a longtime Democratic political consultant and had been charged with accepting a $10,000 bribe.
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