NJ and Corruption: Perfect Together

Since this week's arrests, one has to wonder who else is going to get arrested in conjunction with the ongoing federal investigation into corruption in New Jersey.

We wont have to wait too long, because there are plenty of other politicians who think that they are above the law. All too many politicians in New Jersey think that they can do whatever they like because their constituents will overlook the corruption as long as they bring home the bacon.

It's the dirty secret of politics everywhere - people will hate politicians generally, but love their own guy because they do right by their own constituents.

Many of the politicians in the ongoing scandal are connected with Jersey City. So far the mayor, Jeremiah Healy, has not been arrested, although he was implicated. He admits that he's under investigation. He released a statement admitting that he's one of the few unnamed officials mentioned in the indictments against Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, city official Ed Cheatam and political consultant Jack Shaw:

"Based on review of the complaint , it is clear that I am Jersey City Public Official 4. I did nothing wrong at anytime. Right now we are going to continue to conduct open and honest government and are focused on moving the city forward. In fact, yesterday we solicited instructions and advice from the U.S. Attorney's Office on how to secure the offices and records of those officials who were charged and suspended. We are complying with those instructions and will continue to cooperate. We will make no further statements at this time due to the ongoing nature of this investigation."

I fully expect indictments to be handed down against Healy soon.

With all the corruption in New Jersey, to think that this scandal took down all of the corrupt officials, you'd be naive. It likely barely made a dent.

The Hoboken Mayor, Peter Cammarano, says he will not resign. Watch for pressure to mount on him and other politicians indicted because this compromises their ability to govern.

And to think that this all started with a shady character named Solomon Dwek, who turned state's evidence to improve his own chances of favorable treatment. Entrapment isn't going to fly as a defense because no one forced all these politicians to agree to taking the bribes. That was their own warped ethical and moral universe.

As bad as all the corruption and extortion charges are, the most disturbing charges are against Levy Izhak Rosenbaum, who is accused of selling kidneys for profit. While many in the Jewish community in Brooklyn are baffled at the charges and the indictment, it's alleged that he convinced people to sell their kidneys for $10,000 and sold them to needy patients for $160,000.

Meanwhile, Wayne Bryant, who was convicted on corruption charges earlier this year, was sentenced to four years in prison. He had been facing up to 10 years in prison.