Trenton's Mayor Under FBI Investigation

Yesterday, reports indicated that the FBI searched the home of Trenton Mayor Tony Mack and two other locations.

Mack has denied any wrongdoing and no once has been charged in the expanding federal probe.

“We have not violated the public trust in any way, nor have I violated any of my public duties, and I have no further comment on this matter,” Mack said in a brief statement, before decline to answer questions to a group of reporters
As the search at City Hall entered its second hour, Trenton Councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilson said she was surprised to find the federal agents there this morning.

"I'm just here to make sure our clerk's office and council business is moving forward as best we can," Caldwell-Wilson said. "I was pretty shocked when I heard this morning. And I'm not going to interfere with the investigation. I'm going to let them move on."

Mack’s administration has been plagued with accusations of cronyism and corruption since he took office in July 2010. He has cycled through business administrators and police directors and seen appointees step down when they were charged with crimes, or when their criminal histories or personal financial troubles came to light.

City Councilman George Muschal, a frequent critic of Mack's management of the city, said he was not surprised when he received a text message notifying him that the FBI was raiding City Hall this morning. He only asked one question:

“What took them so long to get there?” Muschal said when reached by phone this afternoon. "There is full blown corruption in the city of Trenton. We have to go to a rock bottom low before we can rebuild. This might be a rock bottom low.”

Among those prosecuted have been Mack’s half-brother, a city water utility employee, as well as a former business administrator and a former chief of staff. A number of employees have sued the administration, including a former recreation employee who alleged that a close Mack associate, acting public works director Harold Hall, acted to bypass public bidding requirements and hired unqualified friends and relatives.

The other two homes belong to Mack's brother Raphael.

Today, the FBI initiated searches of the Mayor's offices at City Hall.

Mack has been under suspicion of engaging in nepotism and reckless spending, but this appears to be something much more serious. Corruption is a huge problem in the state, and it wouldn't be surprising to learn that Mack has engaged in all manner of shoddy practices while in office.

Mack had faced a recall election last year, but survived the recall when it failed to garner sufficient support. That's despite going through eight business administrators, four police directors, many other key employees while the city's finances and fortunes wane. Critics have repeatedly noted that Mack fired the competent and hired the incompetent, replaced the honest with the dishonest. That's why the calls of nepotism and corruption are so strong.

We had to play name that party since the news reports didn't indicate as much, but he's a Democrat.

Friday Night News Dump: South Carolina Lt. Gov. Resigns In Disgrace Over Criminal Charges

It's the latest installment of the Friday Night News Dump. This is where bad news goes to lie under the radar. In this instance, we've got Republican, Lt. Gov. Ken Ard of South Carolina, resigning in disgrace over criminal charges of spending campaign funds on personal expenses and fabricating donations.

He entered guilty pleas shortly after resigning this afternoon.

Apparently as part of a plea deal, Mr. Ard appeared before Judge G. Thomas Cooper of Circuit Court in Columbia, S.C., and pleaded guilty to all seven misdemeanor charges lodged against him. Judge Cooper then sentenced him to five years of probation, a $5,000 fine and 300 hours of community service. He could have faced up to $35,000 in fines and seven years in prison.

The indictment, announced by the state attorney general, Alan Wilson, charged Mr. Ard with what Mr. Wilson said was an effort to create “the false appearance of a groundswell of political support” by reporting $162,500 in “fictitious or bogus campaign contributions.” He also spent campaign donations on personal items, including iPads, clothes, football tickets and family vacations, the indictment said.

This also qualifies as a name that party situation since Ard's party affiliation isn't discussed until deep into the article.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley issued a statement saying that Ard and his family are "good people" but the fact is that Ard has been under investigation for some time and that this was probably as good a deal as he could get.

And once again South Carolina politics is embroiled in scandal - prior to Haley, Gov. Mark Sanford got into trouble and admitted violating campaign spending laws and was censured by state legislators after confessing to an extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina (aka, hiking the Appalachian).

Name That Party: The Larry Seabrook Edition

The NY Daily News reports on a laundry list of criminal and ethical lapses for New York City Councilman Larry Seabrook but somehow misses his party affiliation. He's now facing federal charges in a 66-page indictment:

The endless schemes to line his pockets were detailed in a stunning 66-page federal indictment that charged nothing - not even a cheap snack purchased near City Hall - was beyond Seabrook's greedy grasp.

Seabrook funneled city money to shaky Bronx non-profits where his girlfriend and relatives were paid more than $500,000 between 2002 and 2009, prosecutors charged.

The three-term councilman also shook down a Bronx businessman for $50,000 in return for landing a boiler contract at the new Yankee Stadium - and used the money to pay parking fines and credit card bills.

A 13-count indictment charged Seabrook abused his position to benefit his wife, his girlfriend, his family - and himself.

In one of the most telling details, Seabrook purchased a bagel sandwich and diet soda for $7 near City Hall.

He then doctored the receipt to make the bill total $177, and collected the funds from the North East Bronx Community Democratic Club, the indictment charged. In all, Seabrook was charged with siphoning $44,000 in bogus expenses from the club.

Seabrook has been a staple in New York City politics for decades. He was a State Assemblyman, State Senator, and now works in the New York City Council. I can't possibly imagine what his students at John Jay College for Criminal Justice must think:

Seabrook is currently an Adjunct Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and holds a B.A. Degree in History and Urban Studies from John Jay College, an M.A. Degree in Political Science and International Affairs from Long Island University and a J.D. Degree from CUNY Law School in Queens.

No word from the college on his continued employment and affiliation with the college.

UPDATE:
The indictment is here.

Busted Bronx Politician Faces Possible Perjury Charges

Election fraud by a politican? You don't say. You're hard pressed to find the political affiliation Nelson Castro anywhere in the New York Daily News article either. He's a Democrat.

The charges against Assemblyman Nelson Castro are expected sometime this or next week, sources told The News.

Castro was accused in last September's primary of electoral shenanigans after nine voters were found to be registered to his one-bedroom flat in the west Bronx.

A judge still cleared him to run - and he won the 86th Assembly District. Opponents complained later that he lied under oath when he said he was unaware of the registration situation.

It turned out some of the nine were his and his girlfriend's relatives. The alleged lies under oath are what now have Castro in hot water and facing possible criminal charges, sources said.

A spokesman for Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson had no comment.

Castro, former chief of staff for Manhattan Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat, was designated by then-Bronx Democratic Party boss Jose Rivera to run for the seat after Assemblyman Luis Diaz stepped down to work for Gov. Paterson.

Castro, 37, immediately was criticized after it was disclosed he had a criminal record for collecting unemployment while he had a job and that he was also facing trial at the time for a string of unpaid traffic tickets and driving with a revoked license.

For those who aren't paying attention, all those involved here are Democrats. Castro wasn't exactly a winner even before joining the Assembly as he had a criminal record and shows a casual disregard for the law.

NY Metro Area Political Scandal Watch

I'm sure this will come as a surprise, but the FBI has arrested a bunch of New Jersey mayors and other figures in a wide ranging corruption probe.

WNBC-TV in New York reported and showed images of the mayors of Hoboken and Secaucus being taken into FBI headquarters in Newark. The station also showed rabbis being taken into custody.

Radio station New Jersey 101.5 FM reports the sweeps are taking place in Hudson, Bergen, Monmouth and Ocean counties.

The stations say the probe centers on money-laundering and political bid rigging.

FBI spokeswoman Myrna Williams tells The Associated Press the arrests will go on till noon. She would not provide any more information.

Who else has been arrested? These guys:

A New Jersey assemblyman and the mayors of Hoboken and Secaucus were among public officials arrested this morning by FBI agents in a international money laundering and corruption probe that includes rabbis in the Syrian Jewish communities of Deal and Brooklyn.

Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt (R-Ocean), Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, Secaucus Mayor Denis Elwell and Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega are among those who have been already been brought to the FBI building in Newark. Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini has also been arrested. A total of 30 people have been taken into custody, officials said.

The arrests come after two years of investigations that began with a probe into a money transfer scheme between Syrian Jews living in Deal, New Jersey and Brooklyn.

Curiously, only Pelt's political affiliation is mentioned in the Star Ledger, leaving us to wonder why he was singled out, and what the political affiliation was for all the other politicians nabbed in the probe.

The Bergen Record also notes political affiliations, but of only one person - again a Republican. Funny how that works.

Arrested were: Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell, Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega, Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Baldini, Jersey City Republican John Guarini, La Vern Webb-Washington, a Jersey City council candidate, Joseph Castagna, Jersey City's health officer, and Michael Manzo, a long-time veteran of the Jersey City fire department.

That's on the heels of still more problems for NY Assemblywoman Democrat Ann Margaret Carrozza, who has turned in a pitiful attendance record - she's been absent from session more than 50% of the time all while she's battling the fact that she doesn't live in the district she represents (and that's a problem found among several politicians at the state and local level in New York.

As for truancy, the New York City Council takes the cake. 20% of the Council doesn't show up regularly, and several show up less than 75% of the time.

UPDATE:
Jammie has much more on the developing scandal, including a photo of Gov. Corzine mugging for the cameras with Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano last week when Corzine was busy unveiling the new PATH train cars at Hoboken.

UPDATE:
Sentencing recommendations are in for former State Senator Wayne Bryant (a Democrat). Prosecutors want 8-10 years for his role in a low-show job at UMDNJ, which helped funnel money into the state's medical school.

Wayne Bryant, a once-powerful Democrat from Lawnside who served as chairman of the Senate budget committee, is set to be sentenced Friday. He was convicted last year of 12 corruption charges after a jury found he took a "low-show" job at a school in the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in exchange for bringing state money to the battered institution.

The jury also said he wrongly claimed pension credits for work performed by subordinate lawyers for the Gloucester County Board of Social Services.

Bryant didn't violate any laws by getting the pension credits, but prosecutors persuaded jurors that he broke the law by mailing in timesheets in which he claimed to do work that was really performed by others in his Cherry Hill law firm.

UPDATE:
Perp walk:

Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano III, Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell led in handcuffs into FBI building

Thus far, these are the people who are under arrest and will be indicted as part of this investigation (and their political affiliations - many of which were omitted from early reports except for Republican Van Pelt - will add more names to this list as they become available):

1. Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell (D)
2. Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano (D)
3. Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez (D)
4. State Assemblyman Peter Van Pelt (R)
5. former State Assemblyman Lou Manzo (D)
   
6. Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega (D)
7. Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Baldini (D)
8. Jersey City council candidate Guy Catrillo
9. Jersey City council candidate La Vern Webb-Washington (D, but ran as independent)
   
10. Jersey City health officer Joseph Castagna
11. Hudson County Affirmative Action officer Edward Cheatam, also a Jersey City Housing Authority commissioner
12. Former Jersey City Councilman and former state Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith
13. Richard Greene, former aide to L. Harvey Smith
14. John Guarini, who ran for Congress (R)
15. Lou Manzo
    
16. Ron Manzo
17. Michael Manzo (ran as independent)
18. Political operative Joseph Cardwell
19. Political operative Jack Shaw
20. Former 32nd District Senate candidate Denis Jaslow
21. Richard Green who works in the accounting and purchasing department in Jersey City.
22. Mordchai Fish
23. Eliahu Ben Haim
24. Schmulik Cohen
25. Levi Deutsch
26. Yeshayahu Ehrental
27. Levi Izhak Rosenbaum
28. Edmond Nahum
29. Lavel Schwartz
30. Abraham Pollack
31. Naftoly Weber
32. Saul Kassin
33. Shimon Haber
34. Joseph Castagna
35. Maher A. Khalil
36. Moshe Altman
37. Charles Amon
38. Itzak Friedlander

The home of Joseph V. Doria Jr., commissioner of the state Department of Community Affairs, and former mayor of Bayonne, was raided. He too is a Democrat.

Cammarano's indictment is now available online. He's being charged with 18 USC 1951 offenses, for accepting what appears to be $20,000 in bribes (four times apparently accepting or expecting to accept $5,000 in bribes) and extortion.

Van Pelt's indictment reads similarly. He's caught taking $10,000 in bribes and using his position to influence outcomes at different state agencies.

Various Jewish institutions in Deal were raided this morning:

Agents from the FBI, IRS and Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office raided schools and synagogues in Deal this morning. Boxes were removed from the Deal Yeshiva, on the corner of Brighton and Norwood avenues, is a prestigious religious school in town, as well as the Ohel Yaacob synagogue on Ocean Avenue in Deal.

New Jersey and Corruption. Perfect Together Again.

UPDATE:
Moe Lane (and here) has more information on the political affiliations, which I've added into my full list.

UPDATE:
Here's another list of those arrested, including criminal complaints.

UPDATE:
Among those charged is Levy Izhak Rosenbaum, of Brooklyn. His alleged crimes are at odds with those of the others arrested today. He was indicted on crimes relating to the sale of a human kidney for a transplant, at a cost of $160,000 to the transplant recipient. Selling organs is illegal in the US.

UPDATE:
Joseph Doria, who was not indicted in today's law enforcement sweep, is stepping down as Gov. Corzine's Community Affairs Commissioner (forced seems more apt). His home was searched by the FBI and they took documents as part of their investigation.

Representin'

When a politician represents your district, you expect that person to actually live in the district. Well, that's not the case for yet another Democrat in New York. Assemblywoman Ann Marie Carrozza appears to live out of a posh mansion in Glen Head, while she represents constituents in Bayside, Queens.

There was one problem with the pretty picture: Carrozza's $1.8 million home is in tony Glen Head, L.I. - 15 miles from her district in Bayside, Queens.

Carrozza, 42, who has represented the 26th Assembly District since 1997, bought the mansion on Nassau County's Gold Coast in June 2008, taking out a mortgage for $1 million, property records show.

She told the Daily News the lavish digs were supposed to be "an investment or a second residence." But she signed mortgage documents that specifically state the mansion would be her "principal residence."

When confronted outside the posh pad last week, Carrozza admitted she has lived there full-time since February.

"My primary residence is in Bayside - and we're temporarily renting that out," she said.

Carrozza and her doctor husband own four properties in Bayside - two offices, a home where her mother lives and another residence where the lawmaker is registered to vote.

State legislators are allowed to have second homes outside of their districts as long as they maintain a residence in the district, experts said.

"The issue is then, 'How do you define residence,'" said Manhattan election lawyer Henry Berger. "There is a slightly different standard between establishing a residence and maintaining a residence."

Curiously, the Daily News omits the fact she's a Democrat, even as they note that another Democrat, Pedro Espada, faces claims that he's not living in his district either.

The fact is that there's nothing keeping these people from maintaining the appearance of a home in their district while actually living elsewhere. They don't expect any repercussions from their actions either. Have no doubt that Carrozza will likely win reelection without much effort. They can own property there, but don't actually have to live there themselves.

Classy.

Sanford's Sojourn Smells

What is up with South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (R)? First, he appeared to have dropped off the planet, and then it was claimed that he was out hiking the Appalachians naked. Ummm... Bizarre, but possible. Definitely not something I'd recommend for someone who had aspirations to seek the White House.

Now, it turns out that he went down to Argentina. Argentina?

The oddball admission came a day after his staff explained his prolonged absence by saying Sanford had been hiking along the Appalachian Trail. They were only off by about 5,000 miles - give or take a sleeping bag or two.

"I wanted to do something exotic," Sanford told The State newspaper, adding that he planned to hike the trail before changing his mind at the last minute.

Sanford, who is married, insisted he went to Buenos Aires alone.

"It's a great city," he said.

The Republican governor hadn't been seen since Thursday. He declined to give further details on his South American trip, saying only that he drove along the city's scenic coastline. Sanford said he needed to recharge his battery after a grueling legislative session.

This report indicates that Sanford's latest statements don't pass the smell test either.

Sanford told The State he was alone on the trip to Argentina. He declined to give any additional details about what he did other than to say he drove along the coastline.

Trying to make such a drive could frustrate a weekend visitor to Argentina. In Buenos Aires, the Avenida Costanera is the only coastal road, and it's less than two miles long. Reaching coastal resorts to the south requires a drive of nearly four hours on an inland highway with views of endless cattle ranches. To the north is a river delta of islands reached only by boat.

Drive along the scenic coastline? If he stayed in Buenos Aires, that would take no more than a few minutes.

What exactly was he doing in Argentina? I don't think anyone knows, even his wife and family.

UPDATE:
Marital infidelity? Go figure.

His presser being held now confirms, and there are conflicting questions over whether his wife knew. I don't think it matters. He's toast.

Who was the other person, and why the trip to Argentina? Who paid for the trip? If the taxpayers paid, we're looking at a bigger scandal. If not, watch him attempt to pull a Spitzer.

Also, he's resigned from the Republican Governors Association. His 2012 chances are done, which is fine by me.

UPDATE:
Video added:


UPDATE:
Ed at Hot Air also notes this is the end of the line, and pulls out a relevant South Park reference.

UPDATE:
Anonymous emailer sends along the following from FoxNews, which can't quite get Sanford's political affiliation correct. He's a Republican.



UPDATE:
The state newspapers have been sitting on the fact that he's been emailing the other woman since December. How they got the emails is unknown. But it is interesting that they chose to sit on the information for as long as they have. Waiting for the right time I guess (perhaps when Sanford decided to run for President?) Sanford's wife tried to forgive, but because of this, a separation is in order.

He has four kids. They're going to suffer all the more for this.

Illinois Pay To Play?

On the one hand, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias may have used public funds from the state's college savings fund to pay for a brand new SUV. That's a criminal misuse of public funds, a breach of fiduciary duty, and criminal and civil charges ought to be forthcoming.

On the other hand, Giannoulias claims that the money came from the fee paid to the treasurer's office by an investment firm that manages the fund. That would be considered pay-to-play in many circles, and it raises nearly as many questions as it answers.

In any event, Giannoulias deserves to be thoroughly investigated to determine whether he's engaged in pay-to-play or other civil and criminal misconduct in administering the Illinois college savings plan. (HT: Honorary Youper at LGF)

That's all on top of problems with the fund and a possible breach of fiduciary duties by allowing the fund to invest in riskier securities. It seems that he allowed Oppenheimer Funds to invest in riskier securities, including mortgage backed investments, despite all the risk of being so highly leveraged.

State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias' office has stopped answering questions about problems in the investment portfolio of the state's $2-billion Bright Start college savings program.

Mr. Giannoulias says his lawyer (Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan) has advised him to keep quiet, lest he undermine settlement talks with Bright Start manager Oppenheimer Funds, which he asserts may have violated its fiduciary duty by sticking money in risky mortgage-related securities.

There is some truth in that. The manager who ran Oppenheimer's Core Bond fund left the company earlier this year, and analysts at Chicago's Morningstar Inc. have said the fund was leveraged to the hilt. Ms. Madigan's office has put some limits on public comment.

But Mr. Giannoulias is exaggerating -- perhaps because the questions just keep on arising about whether he properly managed Oppenheimer, or just let it do what it wanted amid a rising number of red flags.

The Bright Star Program lost $85 million last year, and the problems keep mounting for Giannoulias.

The kicker is that Giannoulias is looking to raise funds to campaign for President Obama's former Senate seat. Good luck with that one.

UPDATE:
Lest we forget, this is a name that party instance. Giannoulias is a Democrat.

Pass the Popcorn: Rod Blagojevich Is Impeached

Pass the popcorn, because this is going to get quite entertaining. Welcome to the Chicago way boys and girls.

Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was accused of attempting to sell Barack Obama's US Senate seat to the highest bidder has been impeached, the first time in Illinois state history. The Chicago Democrat was impeached by an overwhelming majority.

In a historic vote, the Illinois House has impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich, directing the Senate to put the state’s 40th chief executive on trial with the goal of removing him from office.

The vote by the House was 114-1 and marks the first time in the state's 190-year history that a governor has been impeached, despite Illinois' longstanding reputation for political corruption.

Rep. Milt Patterson (D-Chicago) was the lone vote against impeaching the governor. Patterson, from Chicago's Southwest Side, said after the roll call that he didn't feel it was his job to vote to impeach the governor. He declined comment on whether he approved of the job Blagojevich is doing.

UPDATE:
And for the record, the Chicago story doesn't mention Blagojevich's political affiliation. He's a Democrat, not that it matters to most of the press, who would only find reason to include party affiliation when a Republican is involved - and include that detail in every available headline.

Name That Party: Assault and Battery Edition

An incoming New York State Senator is being questioned in connection with an assault on his girlfriend. No mention of the guy's political affiliation, but he's a Democrat for those who are wondering.

Incoming state Sen. Hiram Monserrate of Queens, a former cop, is being questioned in connection with an alleged assault on his girlfriend, The Post has learned.

The woman's face was cut with a bottle in what investigators believe was a domestic fight.

UPDATE:
The New York Times doesn't play name that party. They mention it prominently in the lede.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich Arrested On Corruption Charges

Go figure. Rod Blagojevich sought to profit from choosing the successor to Sen. Barack Obama, who becomes President in January.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested by FBI agents Tuesday morning on federal corruption charges, officials said.

His chief of staff John Harris was also charged, the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed in a statement.

Blagojevich, 51, and Harris, 46, both of Chicago, were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery.

It also figures that curiously left out of the report is the fact that he's a Democrat. Funny how that works.

UPDATE:
According to Bruce in the comments, the MSNBC story now includes Blagojevich's political affiliation. Gee, it wasn't that hard to include. Meanwhile, here's a timeline into the Blagojevich investigation. It remains to be seen whether Obama gets dragged into this mess directly. Right now, there's no indication that Obama is involved, but the number of people involved or who have already rolled on Blagojevich is staggering:

he investigation’s been active for three years and his cronies have been rolling over on him for months, culminating in a former aide named John Wyma having somehow cooperated with the feds to obtain recordings of Blagojevich yakking about graft. (The Tribune, which broke the news, won’t say if he wore a wire.) Another top crony was convicted six months ago of mail fraud, among other things, but his sentencing was postponed from October to January amid rumors that he was singing to the U.S. Attorney about the Chicago machine in hopes of a better deal. You might have heard of him.

That last person? Tony Rezko.

Stay tuned. Chicago politics is in play, and it's guaranteed to get messy.

UPDATE:
That's not the Fitzmas that the left was looking for. Patrick Fitzgerald, who had headed up the investigation into who leaked Valerie Plame's name to the media, is the prosecutor involved and he's knocked over a hornet's nest here.

UPDATE:
The Chicago Tribune (currently seeking bankruptcy protection) also omits Blagojevich's political affiliation. Well, when you miss the small details, things happen. Like bankruptcy.

UPDATE:
Mere Rhetoric also plays name that party!

UPDATE:
Whoa nelly. Thanks to Michelle Malkin, Powerline, and Instapundit for the links. Much appreciated.

For those new to A Blog For All, name that party is a regular feature here, given the media's propensity to omit that detail in their reporting or to mysteriously insert and remove party affiliations from release version to version. It's no wonder so many people got questions wrong about who really controls Congress and other political questions these days. The media has done an awful job of informing their customers of basic news. It's no wonder that the bottom line at so many media outlets is suffering.

It doesn't take a whole lot of effort to include the political affiliations. In fact, it's an extra three keystrokes (D) would do it. It should be part of the mandatory style guides at the AP and other news outlets. Familiarity should not be an excuse either - local papers often get their reports picked up by national outlets and if the affiliations are omitted at the first level, that error is carried forward.

Is it so hard for the media to be consistent on how it reports political scandals? When Republicans get caught, that political affiliation is often included in the headline, while Democrats often get their affiliation buried deep in the article, if they're mentioned at all.

The media makes a big deal about claiming to be objective, but consistency would be a starting place on objective reporting, and I've repeatedly found inconsistencies on how such corruption is reported across the board.

UPDATE:
CNN now leads their lede on their front page mentioning Blagojevich's Democratic party ties. Good for them.

Verdict Reached In Wayne Bryant Case: UPDATE: Guilty On All Counts

In yet another New Jersey corruption case, Democrat Wayne Bryant stands accused of bribery and fraud in connection with steering grants and having a no-show job at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). The jury has come back with a verdict, which will be announced shortly.

UPDATE:
The AP decides to play name that party with Bryant's political affiliation in the report on the verdict having been reached. Nice.

The jury had been deliberating since Friday.

UPDATE:
Guilty on all counts.

Investigating the Friends of Angelo Mortgage Program At Countrywide

This investigation should have been underway months ago as it was evident that Countrywide Home Mortgages was throwing all kinds of perks to certain politicians that had the appearance of greasing the wheels and benefitting the company. I guess we should be thankful that it's underway now, although the results wont be available until well after the election next week.

"The Justice Department is making very serious inquiry into any possible wrongdoing that may involve (former Countrywide CEO) Anthony Mozilo, other Countrywide employees, Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. Kent Conrad, (former Fannie Mae CEO) Franklin Raines or other public officials," said Feinberg's lawyer, Anthony Salvano. "Robert has always cooperated thoroughly with authorities and is strictly a witness in their investigation."

'Friends of Angelo's'
Salvano said the prosecutors and FBI agents seemed focused on whether the preferential treatment given to V.I.P. customers was part of an effort by Countrywide to buy influence - as well as on the conduct of each public official who received a mortgage from Countrywide.

Feinberg says that Countrywide's clients in this program were known by a nickname.

"We called them F.O.A.'s," Feinberg told NBC News, "which were Friends of Angelo's."

"Angelo" is Countrywide's then-CEO, Angelo Mozilo, who once called an ordinary borrower's plea for help on his mortgage payments, "disgusting."

Among those who are looking at having to answer tough questions? Senators Chris Dodd and Kent Conrad. What's missing? Their party affiliation. They're both Democrats.

Feinberg's client list also runs the gamut. Among those benefitting from the VIP program were four former Cabinet members spanning Democratic and Republican administrations: Henry Cisneros, Richard Holbrooke, Alphonso Jackson, and Donna Shalala. Two former CEO's of Fannie Mae, James Johnson and Franklin Raines, heads of the government-sponsored entity which bought Countrywide's mortgages - also received VIP mortgages from Countrywide.

Those named indeed spanned both Democrat and Republican administrations, but let's be clear who's affiliated with which parties.

Henry Cisneros: Democrat (Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1993 through 1997 for the Clinton Administration; Cisneros entered a plea deal for lying to the FBI, and was fined $10,000; later pardoned by President Clinton)
Richard Holbrooke: Democrat (was in Clinton Administration in various capacities and worked for the Kerry campaign in 2004)
Alphonso Jackson: Republican (named to HUD by President Bush)
Donna Shalala: Democrat (Secretary of Health and Human Services for President Clinton from 1993 through 2001).

Was it really that difficult to point out the party affiliations here? Nope. It does offer up some clarity though. Countrywide was trying to influence the decision making process, and more Democrats than Republicans were involved. That's an issue that simply not in doubt. The media simply obfuscates the issue by not reporting as such, or conflating all those involved in one big jumble without noting that the key players involved were Democrats.

Senator Dodd continues to claim ignorance as to what the VIP/Friends of Angelo meant to the bottom line of his loans with Countrywide. That's simply not believable given that he knew, or should have known, what mortgage rates were and how his rates and fees differed from those of prime borrowers as Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. If he doesn't know those basic pieces of information, that brings up the question of his competence as the chairman of that committee, whose function includes oversight over the banking and finance industries.

Gov. Pateron's Aide Claims "Non-Filer Syndrome"

I'm sure the IRS officials who have to read this will get a chuckle, right before they drop the hammer on Charles O'Byrne.

claimed Wednesday he failed to pay taxes for five years because he has "non-filer syndrome."

"These are very high-functioning people who otherwise can complete all of the ordinary tasks in their lives," O'Byrne lawyer Richard Kestenbaum insisted.

"But there is something that they can't do, and many times that causes them not to be able to file their tax returns."

Here's why O'Byrne didn't file his taxes. He chose not to. You must pay them. Failure to do so is subject to criminal and civil penalties. This is a lame attempt to avoid paying penalties, interest, on his tax obligations, which is over $300,000 (and $100,000 more than previously indicated).

Gov. Paterson is going to have to distance himself from O'Byrne over this.

UPDATE:
Gov. Paterson is now calling for background checks on his top officials. That's what should be done before they get the jobs, not after. No check was done on Paterson's chief of staff O'Byrne. Oh, and it's an opportunity to play name that party! Thanks AP!

Mahoney Mess: FBI Investigates Salacious Details, Local Democrats Bitter

As I suspected yesterday, the FBI is looking at whether federal funds were involved in the payoffs of Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-FL) to keep two affairs out of sight. However, I wasn't thinking big enough. It's even juicier than I thought. The FBI is looking at two salacious lines of inquiry:

Federal agents also are examining whether a second affair Mahoney was having with a high-level official in his Florida district was the reason behind his decision to push for federal emergency funds for her county, the official said.

The person spoke to The Associated Press only on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.

The FBI is looking into whether Mahoney hired the first mistress—and put her on the federal payroll—so she would not reveal their affair, the person said. The woman, Patricia Allen, has not returned calls for comment.

The agency also wants to know whether any sexual favors were exchanged for Mahoney helping Martin County secure a $3.4 million reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for hurricane damage there while having a second affair with a high-level county manager.

So, even with what would appear to be on its face a blatant abuse of federal funds, abuse of his position as Congressman, and the salaciousness of the scandal, it barely cracks the headlines.

This is the same district that saw Mark Foley, a Republican, have a sex scandal of his own - if you count salacious emails as a sex scandal. That scandal, and the subsequent bungling by GOP leaders, helped cost the GOP their majority in 2006. Of course, the media was more than happy to assist in that endeavor.

Now, we're watching as real federal funds were involved to buy silence, sexual favors exchanged for federal funds, and a federal job offered to keep silent.

The Democrat leadership knew, or had reason to know of the affairs and sat on it. The media isn't willing to dig deeper and find out just what the Democrat leaders knew - and I suspect it's because the media knows what they'll find out - that they knew and did nothing except hope that the issue blows past the election and that they did all they could to keep it from breaking in the news. ABC News broke both the Foley story and the Mahoney story - and should be commended for that fact. However, they and none of the other big media outlets are doing anyone any favors by avoiding the 800 pound gorilla of what the leadership knew and did to keep this story out of the press.

That this story isn't plastered in the headlines like the Foley story is a testament to the bias within the media to avoid running stories detrimental to Democrats, especially at election time.

After all, this story has everything - a compelling story line, sex, money, and power.

Some Democrats are questioning how the DCCC pushed Mahoney on the district because he was a multimillionaire, overlooking other candidates. That may be sour grapes from David Lutrin, but he's getting to say I told you so because the DCCC didn't bother to vet Mahoney nearly as well as they should; and Mahoney's more closely tied to Rahm Emanuel than the media is letting on. The Democrats were chasing the money and former GOPers to run for office over established Democrats. In more conservative leaning districts, the crossover appeal is definitely a plus, but it looks real bad for Emanuel for backing Mahoney without doing his due diligence.

I'll give the AP credit for their story above for including Mahoney's political affiliation up front. Mighty charitable of them. I can't say the same of other outlets.

And speaking of the subject of name that party and media bias, why exactly is the non-affair story involving John McCain back in the news? Someone decided that this was the only way to divert attention from the active and festering Mahoney mess?

Florida Democrat Tim Mahoney Had Two Ongoing Affairs?

As if being married wasn't enough, Tim Mahoney had not only one affair with someone working in his office, Patricia Allen, but had a second affair at the same time. If he had all this time on his hands to juggle his affairs, where did his constituents fit in?

Hours after a married congressman addressed a report that he had an affair with a former aide and paid her to keep quiet about, details of a purported tryst with a second woman surfaced.

Though Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney did not directly mention allegations first reported by ABC News, that he had been involved with the former aide, he issued a statement apologizing to his family but denying he'd done anything illegal.

Later Tuesday, a person close to his campaign told The Associated Press that Mahoney also was having an affair with a second woman around the same time.

Mahoney, 52, won his seat in 2006 while promising to return morals and family values to Washington in the aftermath of the resignation of former Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Foley. Foley stepped down when it was revealed he sent lurid Internet messages to male teenage pages who had worked on Capitol Hill. Foley was later cleared of criminal wrongdoing by state and federal authorities.

Democrat leaders in the House ought to be pressed on when they learned of the affair, and what they did. It is apparent that Rahm Emanuel knew and if that's the case, this situation isn't all that different from how the GOP handled the Mark Foley mess. Democrats used the failure of the GOP leadership to catapult into control of the House.

Given the way that the Democrats under Speaker Pelosi have run Congress into the ground with never before seen low approval ratings and no accomplishments to speak of, the GOP should be pouncing on this as a way to gain back many of the seats lost in 2006. However, they have to overcome a media that is quite reluctant to press home the point.

UPDATE:
The FBI is now taking a serious interest in Mahoney's actions.

FBI agents have reportedly contacted members of Mahoney's staff and Tuesday sought legal files surrounding the secret settlement, according to current and former Mahoney Congressional and campaign staff workers.

A spokesperson for the FBI said she had been instructed to say "no comment" to press inquiries.

It would be unusual but not unprecedented for the FBI to open an investigation into a member of Congress three weeks before the election.

If the Democrats had their way, news of Mahoney's affair wouldn't have come out until after the election, and they were trying quite hard to ensure that. ABC News broke the news on the affair, just as they did with the Foley mess.

UPDATE:
Still more details about that second affair, and it's just as damning as the first affair and subsequent coverup:

On Tuesday night, a person close to the Mahoney campaign told the AP that Mahoney also was having a relationship with a high-ranking official in Martin County in his Florida district around the same time of the purported affair with Allen.

The person close to the campaign spoke only on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to openly discuss Mahoney's private life.

The person said Mahoney was having the relationship with the official in 2007 while he also was lobbying the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a $3.4 million reimbursement for Martin County for damage caused by hurricanes in 2004. FEMA approved the money late last year.

Mahoney's congressional staff declined to comment on this alleged tryst, but noted Mahoney lobbies for FEMA funding throughout his district, and that Martin County has received $43 million from FEMA since 2004. Mahoney didn't take office until 2006.

I think I see the FBI's potential line of inquiry - who got FEMA money via Mahoney and whether favors were done to obtain such funds.

UPDATE:
Copious Dissent notes that some reports on Mahoney's actions are avoiding mention of his political affiliation. Why am I not surprised. It's time to play name that party!

UPDATE:
Gay Patriot notes the media discrepancy between the Foley coverage and Mahoney coverage. I'm not surprised, it's what the media does. Heck, Rahm Emanuel, who knew of the affair, wasn't even questioned by Chris Matthews. The media isn't even bothering asking the questions they asked of GOP leadership despite evidence that federal funds may have been involved in silencing one of the two women Mahoney had an extramarital affair with.

Meanwhile, it appears that Mahoney is considering quitting the race. He's probably being pressured by Pelosi and the other Democrat leadership to quit to avoid this story spiraling out of control, but I'm still curious as to what the leadership knew, when they knew, and the steps they took to keep it out of the press - particularly the part about how federal funds may be involved.

UPDATE:
The quip of the day has to come from Don Surber, who caught the Palm Beach Post's endorsement of Mahoney:

Mahoney has delivered.”

On Sunday, the PBP endorsed Democratic Congressman Tim Mahoney: “Tim Mahoney has had a productive two years in Congress, and on Nov. 4 voters should give him two more years.”

Name That Party: Assault and Battery Edition

Courtesy of New York State Senator Kevin Parker:

Lucretia John, 32, filed a complaint last Saturday claiming state Sen. Kevin Parker, 41, pushed her, knocking her glasses to the floor - and then purposely stepped on them, according to the police report.

The argument at the lawmaker's Glenwood Road office erupted Saturday afternoon, police said. John filed her complaint at 4 p.m.

Parker then filed a cross-complaint an hour later, cops said - claiming she was the one who lost it, and that she hit him, the police report said.

This isn't his first dustup, as he was accused of punching a traffic agent for ticketing his double parked car.

His party affiliation. You guessed it. Democrat (and he's the Democratic Whip in the State Senate).

Name That Party: Illegal Alien Smuggling Edition

Well, apparently sins of the child shouldn't impugn on the parent, except if you're Gov. Sarah Palin. We've got an Florida Congressman's son arrested for bringing illegal aliens into Arizona from Mexico.

The son of a U.S. Congressman from was arrested in Willcox Sunday, charged with human smuggling. According to court documents John F. Boyd son of Florida Congressman Allen Boyd, attempted to drive through a Border Patrol checkpoint in Willcox on Sunday with five illegal immigrants, including a 6-year-old girl.

In a statement sent Tuesday, Congressman Allen Boyd said, "On September 14, 2008, my 30-year-old son, John Boyd, was arrested in Arizona, and at a preliminary hearing yesterday, he was charged with alien smuggling."

"This is a family matter that my family and I will be dealing with privately. John is a grown man and must face the consequences for his actions, but he has the love and support of his family," says the elder Boyd.

The big mystery, the Congressman's political affiliation.

Here's a hint. He's a Democrat. (HT: Ace)

Name That Party: NYS Assembly Edition

We've been quite busy here with the Name that Party game as media outlets keep violating basic journalistic principles by failing to mention key facts that might be useful to the public. AP gets to play name that party. The New York Times doesn't.

From the Times:

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan announced this morning that Anthony Seminerio, a Democratic assemblyman from Queens, had been charged in a fraud scheme in which they said he took more than $500,000 in payments from entities doing business with the state.

Prosecutors charged that the Mr. Seminerio, who has served in the Assembly for about 30 years, began the scheme in 2000 by establishing his own consulting company, called Marc Consultants. But he did little or no consulting work, they said.

A lawyer for Mr. Seminerio could not be reached immediately for comment.

A criminal complaint unsealed in United States District Court in Manhattan said Mr. Seminerio received the money largely in connection with “the performance of his official duties as a member of the Assembly,” and which resulted in favorable treatment for the businesses that were paying him.

The Times has a great new feature that enables you to read criminal complaints and other kinds of pdf documents in line with the reports instead of separately downloading the documents. The criminal complaint can be found here.

Anonymous emailer pointed out the name that party possibilities.

Detroit Mayor Pleads Guilty To Lying Under Oath

Make that former Mayor, as Kwame Kilpatrick, the Democratic mayor of Detroit, entered a guilty plea for lying under oath.

The deal calls for Kilpatrick to plead guilty to two felony counts of obstruction of justice by committing perjury, agreeing to serve four months in jail, pay up to $1 million in restitution, and serve five years' probation. He also agreed not to run for office during that five-year span.

The mayor will turn over his state pension to the City of Detroit, which paid $8.4 million to settle two whistle-blower lawsuits three former cops filed against the city. The mayor was charged with eight felony counts ranging from conspiracy to perjury to misconduct in office to obstruction of justice after the Free Press revealed that the mayor lied on the witness stand during a police whistle-blower trial and gave misleading testimony about whether he intended to fire a deputy police chief investigating allegations of wrongdoing by members of his inner circle.

In a rushed monotone, Kilpatrick told the court: "I lied under oath in the case of Gary Brown and Harold Nelthrope versus the city of Detroit ... I did so with the intent to mislead the court and jury, to impede and obstruct the disposition of justice."

Groner asked Kilpatrick: "Are you satisfied with your lawyers in this case?"
The mayor replied: "Uh, what do you mean?"

After Groner explained, Kilpatrick said he was satisfied with the performance of his legal team.

Groner: "The court's satisfied and will accept the plea to two counts of obstruction of justice."

Oh, and the Detroit Free Press has decided to play name that party. Thanks! I made sure that was addressed in my lede.

UPDATE:
The AP gets it right and doesn't play name that party. Reuters also doesn't play name that party. Fancy that.