The AP is reporting that public officials across NJ are getting taken into police custody. Reasons cited so far (mostly unofficial) include vote rigging (surprise, surprise), extortion (no, really?) and a human organ harvesting ring (WTF?).
NEWARK, N.J. - FBI agents are sweeping across northern New Jersey Thursday, making arrests in what reportedly is described as a major 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.
CNN is reporting at least 44 arrests, and the FBI spokesmen said that there were probably more to come during his press conference.
And here's a glamor shot of the Mayor of Hoboken doing his perp walk;
That'll be great for his campaign literature, I'm sure.
More info here (NBC News Online)
Officials say separate from the corruption probe, some of the suspects charged today were also connected to an illegal human organ-selling ring. Investigators say some charged would take cash payments to help find organs for sick patients in need of transplants. It's unclear where the body parts might have come from or how many surgeries may have been done.
Congratulations, Jersey. And a heartfelt thanks for making Philly look like a bastion of moral governance.
The Great NJ Political Perp WalkHere's CNN's early coverage of it. I have no idea how to embed from that page.MSNBC's got more on the money laundering/organ stealing stuff (thanks, Couscous):
In separate money-laundering complaints, several individuals from Brooklyn and New Jersey were charged with offenses ranging from the trafficking of kidneys from Israeli donors to laundering proceeds from selling fake Gucci and Prada bags. It was not immediately clear how the money-laundering arrests were connected to the corruption arrests.
NBC affiliate WNBC reported that the kidney trafficking involved patients paying middlemen to find willing donors in Israel. Investigators allege that the suspects had donors and patients lie to hospitals by saying that they were related. Hospitals would do the operation unaware that cash payments were part of the deal.
Partial list of arrested suspects (DOJ via Earthtimes):
Among those charged in criminal Complaints are:
- Peter Cammarano III, the newly elected mayor of Hoboken and an attorney, charged with accepting $25,000 in cash bribes, including $10,000 last Thursday, from an undercover cooperating witness.
- L. Harvey Smith, a New Jersey Assemblyman and recent mayoral candidate in Jersey City, charged along with an aide of taking $15,000 in bribes to help get approvals from high-level state agency officials for building projects.
- Daniel Van Pelt, a New Jersey Assemblyman, charged with accepting a $10,000 bribe.
- Dennis Elwell, mayor of Secaucus, charged with taking a $10,000 cash bribe.
- Anthony Suarez, mayor of Ridgefield and an attorney, charged with agreeing to accept a $10,000 corrupt cash payment for his legal defense fund.
- Louis Manzo, the recent unsuccessful challenger in the Jersey City mayoral election and former state Assemblyman, and his brother and political advisor Robert Manzo, both with taking $27,500 in corrupt cash payments for use in Louis Manzo's campaign.
- Leona Beldini, the Jersey City deputy mayor and a campaign treasurer, charged with taking $20,000 in conduit campaign contributions and other self-dealing in her official capacity.
- Eliahu Ben Haim, of Long Branch, N.J., the principal rabbi of a synagogue in Deal, N.J., charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity.
- Saul Kassin, of Brooklyn, N.Y., the chief rabbi of a synagogue in Brooklyn, New York, charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity.
- Edmund Nahum, of Deal, N.J., the principal rabbi of a synagogue in Deal, charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity.
- Mordchai Fish, of Brooklyn, N.Y., a rabbi at a synagogue in Brooklyn, charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity. His brother, also a rabbi, was charged as well.
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Geez.
The everyday sort of political corruption is expected, but apparently some of those dudes were going for the 401 courseload.
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Damn.
They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
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If I can get some CNN video coverage I'll post it.
They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
I assumed the mayor of hoboken would have a fake tan and spiked hair.
I fully expect to hear Blago say "Well, at least I wasn't selling people's organs!". Only with more profanity.
More like, "Damn, why didn't I think of that?"
I feel bad for whoever is in charge of the tourist board of NJ. That person has been overwhelmed for a while.
"Come to New Jersey.....don't believe the rumors!"
Mayor still hasn't said jack
Edit: I'll add some scope to the OP.
They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
Dammit Jews! The point is to NOT do things that idiotic anti-Semites suspect you of doing.
They're trying out for the corruption Olympics.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32103250/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/
This is all part of New Jersey's plan on reducing the impact of the recession and ensuring they have money in the budget. Now they don't have to pay 44 public service salaries!
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Our deputy mayor is his campaign financier and she's charged with illegal campaign contributions for his election.
Plus head of the City Council got nabbed too
They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
Well,, we aren't just talking about regular illegal political shit; we are talking about illegal shit that has little to do with politics other than involving politicians.
Not to mention how many were involved in this shit.
I [ ] New Jersey!
They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
Hasidim, but I don't believe 'em!
"So three mayors, two state legislators, and several rabbis walk into an FBI interrogation room..."
Somebody finish the joke, I got nothing.
There were no survivors.
...Nevermind. I use that for everything.
And the rabbis yell "Fuck you we got your hearts!" and everyone falls over dead?
They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
"New Jersey: #1
Though it is difficult work there is joy in making things for that"
Best Engrish and best (only?) pro-NJ shirt I'll ever find. I really should have bought it.
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Any Hobokenians(Hobokenites?) know what your newly elected mayor promised you?
If the FBI was in fact cracking down on it, I'm surprised there are any Hudson county officials who weren't arrested.
Edit: Tallgeeze, Here's the guy's campaign site.
http://www.cammarano09.com/
Two of his "Key Issues" are "Transparent & Accountable Government", and "Responsible Development"