Not A Surprise: Sharpe James Under Investigation

Sharpe James, the former mayor of Newark, New Jersey, and a political hack of the first order, is the focus of a grand jury investigation and would appear to be ripe for an indictment on charges of corruption:

Details of the so-called target letter were unclear, but such notifications typically outline potential charges and offer the target an opportunity to testify before the grand jury. They also represent unofficial 11th-hour invitations to negotiate a plea, suggesting that charges could be imminent.

Several sources familiar with the investigation said the government has been proceeding on two fronts: Whether James, who is a Democratic state Senator, used his office to pay for lavish vacations and if he steered the sale of city real estate to friends and associates at deep discounts.

In recent months, FBI agents have questioned nearly a dozen potential witnesses, including Newark police officers who served as his bodyguards, city council members who approved land sales and top officials in James' administrations, according to attorneys and officials briefed on aspects of the case.

Some of those charges stem from his run as mayor, where he took numerous trips right before leaving office.