Democratic Party Boss Convicted; Christie Accuses Corzine of Enabling Corruption

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Happy October Surprise, Governor Corzine.

Today a jury found Joe Ferriero, former chairman of the Bergen County Democratic Organization, guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud and two counts of mail fraud.

Guess how much money Jon Corzine and his family gave to Ferriero over the years?

$441,600.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie held a conference call moments ago. Highlights:

I experienced a lot of these days and led the office when this case was indicted
. . . Joe Ferriero abused a position of trust and the position of trust of his co-conspirator in order to line his own pockets. His leadership of the Bergen County Democratic Organization was a disgrace . . . This should be a day of great joy in Bergen County.

Christie said he expected Ferreiro will see jail time.

It's time for us to turn the page on this kind of conduct . . . At the time, you
heard partisans yelling and screaming that this was another partisan indictment from the U.S. Attorney's office. Those partisans have been refuted by the jury today. . . .

He was enabled for large portion of what he did by Jon Corzine and his bankroll. He bears some responsibility. His own running mate [lieutenant governor candidate Loretta Weinberg] accused Joe Ferriero of being a political boss standing in the way of reform. But he continued for his own selfish political purposes. I'm not saying the governor had knowledge of him being a criminal — at least, I presume that's the case — but his money enabled Joe Ferriero to be a dictator up there — he ruled over not just the Bergen County Democratic Organization, but the Bergen County government. He should have listened to Loretta Weinberg years ago and closed his checkbook to Ferriero. . . .

If he wanted Ferriero out of power and out of influence, he should have closed his checkbook.

UPDATE: Soren Dayton notes that Jon Corzine has a history of talking tough on ethics and then knuckling under when the state party machine wants him to drop it.

10/22 04:49 PM Share