Sharpe James indicted on 33 counts

[Scurrilous]

Source: Asbury Park Press

Accused of fraud for use of Newark-owned credit card on vacations

<snip>

"State Sen. Sharpe James, a former longtime Newark mayor, is accused of defrauding the citizens of Newark by using his office to benefit himself and friends, according to a 33-count indictment announced by state and federal law
enforcement Thursday.

The indictment, which is expected to be released later this afternoon, accuses James, 71, D-Essex, of using city-issued credit cards to spend lavishly on himself and eight female companions while traveling to Martha's Vineyard, Rio de Janeiro, the Dominican Republican and Puerto Rico, officials said in a news release.

James is also accused of selling city-owned land to Tamika Riley, one of the
traveling companions, at cut-rate prices. Riley, who authorities said reaped hundreds of thousands of dollars from the sales, was also charged with fraud.

James and Riley were expected to appear before a federal judge in Newark at 2:15 p.m. U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie, state Attorney General Anne Milgram and FBI and IRS officials were planning to hold a news conference after the court proceeding."



Read more: http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070712/NEWS0301/70712038/1007/NEWS03

---

"Street Fight"

Premiered: July 5, 2005

"The Academy Award-nominated "Street Fight" covers the turbulent campaign of Cory Booker, a 32-year old Rhodes Scholar/Yale Law graduate running for mayor of Newark, N.J. against Sharpe James, the four-term incumbent twice his age. Fresh from winning awards at the SilverDocs, HotDocs and Tribeca film festivals, "Street Fight" is this year's political thriller."

http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2005/streetfight/?gclid=CPmKiuTToo0CFRI7ZQodrWkA7A

[kestrel91316]

1. I frown on this, regardless of party affiliation......

[NMDemDist2]

2. well you can be sure this will be trumpeted all over

after all, he has a "D" after his name :banghead:

[Tempest]

3. There will be a difference

Democrats will condemn him.

Repugs are silent or defend them when their own are prosecuted.


And for every one Democrat that is under investigation or indicted, there are 10 Repugs who are right behind him.

[rfranklin]

8. Actually if it was a Dem prosecutor they would say its void and...

doesn't count. Hell, they've actually accused Republican prosecutors of "political" persecution.

[Mabus]

4. Corrupt members of either party should be exposed and held accountable

We want should want truth and honesty in our government. When a governmental employee (elected or hired) is corrup they need to be held accountable.

[Frustratedlady]

7. Absolutely.

Even if it's only 1 or 2 that are charged with a crime, it muddies up the water for the rest of them and gives people reason to say, "Well, they're all corrupt."

Clean them all out.

[Oreo]

5. If you've seen Street Fight...

you'll think this is a good day for the citizens of Newark.

I don't care what party he's in. He's corrupt and he needs to pay.

[qanda]

6. Anyone who saw that documentary knew how corrupt James was

And all the Democrats who showed up to support James over Booker should spend time in jail with him. It was shameful!

[catgirl]

9. I saw that documentary

James is beyond corrupt. Cory Booker deserved to win the first time. James
started the "Booker is really white man" campaign in order to get the black
votes. Thank goodness Booker won the second time.

[catgirl]

11. Great documentary, btw

[qanda]

13. Yes, it really is

Everyone should see it.

[TreasonousBastard]

10. What took 'em so long? I lived in the city next door to...

that thieving scumbag and just about every day there would be some news about something he was stealing. The trips and girlfriends flipping real estate is really old news. Was in the papers long before I left Joisey.

The Star-Ledger would print the Newark budget every year, and half of it was "Miscellaneous." It was a riot. But, rarely did the principals get pounded, such is the power of the county boss. James, while Mayor, was also a State Senator and county Democratic boss. He might have had another job or two, but I'm a bit hazy on that. You're allowed to have a lot of gummint jobs in Joisey, and ethics means simply not getting caught.

Christie is an excesively political Republican US Attorney, and no doubt this is a bright feather in his cap. It is also no doubt a warning shot at several other Democratic bosses in Joisey. Perhaps it is the reason one of them, Lesniak, announced his retirement a while ago.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

12. About friggin' time.

I worked at Symphony Hall, in Newark for a time. James' cousin was the director there, until it was found that he was stealing construction materials to renovate apartments in buildings that he owned. stuff like this was happening all the time, in that city. It would get federal funds and nothing would improve.

It was long known that James was one of the worst of the worst. He was/is as crooked as they come.

Now, someone needs to do some looking into Chris Christie.

[brentspeak]

14. He should have been prosecuted years ago

James' corruption as Newark mayor was well-known for a long, long time.

[robcon]

15. It was known a long time...

but you have to have evidence of specific crimes.

Sharpe James ran a very corrupt administration, but it takes facts and evidence.

[ButterflyBlood]

16. About fucking time

He doesn't belong anywhere except jail.