| Northjersey.com reported a few minutes ago that Mayor Anthony R. Suarez, who hung on to his seat as most politicians arrested on the day of last summer's massive corruption sweep gave theirs up, and survived an August recall election, has just been acquitted on all counts. Suarez' was the subject of newspaper editorials calling for him to step down. Of the politicians bagged in the Solomon Dwek sting, Suarez remains the last to keep his office.
Earlier this month, jurors watched a grainy black-and-white video from a hidden camera carried on Dwek's chest at about eye-level with Suarez. Dwek posed as a corrupt developer offering bribes in exchange for building approvals. The word "bribe" was never used, but prosecutors did use that word in the trial, saying Suarez took $10,000 in bribes from the one-time rabbinical student, turned criminal, turned informant. Suarez' co-defendant Vincent Tabbachino was acquitted of conspiracy, but found guilty of attempted extortion and bribery.
Mayor Suarez' acquittal marks the first time in more than 10 years that a public official has been cleared of corruption charges by a federal jury in New Jersey. The massive corruption sweep of last summer, an investigation started by Chris Christie when he was still United States Attorney for NJ and with Democratic politicians overwhelmingly the target, played a key role in propelling Christie to the governorship. |
.gif)
