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The Forgery Trial is Over

by: Senator Loretta Weinberg

Thu Feb 17, 2011 at 10:16:43 PM EST

It's been almost six years and finally one person, who was charged with one forged resignation came to trial in Superior Court in Bergen County. Elaine Rabbit who was the Vice Chair of the Bergenfield Democratic Committee during the time I won the convention to become the State Senator from District 37, was charged and found not guilty before Judge Donald Venezia this afternoon. Carol Hornlein has chronicled this saga several times for the Blue Jersey audience.

There were approximately six forgeries in the Bergenfield Democratic Committee during the same convention. But only one other person was charged with just one of these forgeries and opted for pre-trial intervention rather than stand trial. Ms. Rabbit chose instead to face trial.

And today the verdict was in.

read the juicy details below

Senator Loretta Weinberg :: The Forgery Trial is Over

udge Venezia made it clear that he did not think the State had proven its case beyond the reasonable doubt standard in the law. However, he also made it clear that he knew something was very wrong in the way the organization tried to manipulate the convention.

"I think there was a purpose to defraud," Venezia said. He went on to sum it up. "Is it more likely true than not, I'll look her right in the eye and say yeah," Venezia said to Rabbit. "But that's not the standard."

The state could not prove its case. It is hard to prove facts six years after the alleged incidents. But obviously, the Judge "got it".

I agree with Elaine Rabbit: I, too, am glad it's over. And I'm also glad the Attorney General's office followed through, albeit six years late. That sent a message that this kind of arrogant, and insulting behavior will no longer be tolerated in our party process in Bergen. County. Thanks to Judge Venezia, Elaine Rabbit received a fair trial, and somehow the truth was also revealed!

Quote of the Month: "I think there was a purpose to defraud. Is it more likely true than not, I'll look her right in the eye and say yeah."

That's good enough for me!

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The Forgery Trial is Over | 6 comments

Reply to Senator (0.00 / 0)

I gotta hand it to Senator Weinberg. She is a master politician. Politicians can put a spin on anything, and she is working her hardest to put some on this event. However, the fact is, if looks like a LOSS, walks like a LOSS, and smells like a LOSS, its a LOSS!

The trial illustrated the same thing that has been known to all since day 1: Nothing criminal occurred with respect to Ms. Rabbit and she was NEVER GUILTY!

I am not buying your spin Senator. For those of you at home keeping score, that's 3 straight defeats for the senator in the last 2 years. Lieutenant Gov, Gay Marriage, and now this. Her power and influence is dwindling by the minute and this latest spin is her last ditch effort to hold on to what's left. I'm looking forward to her 4th and final loss: Re-election. Congratulations to Elaine Rabbit for being vindicated by the truth.

Quote of the Decade: "What goes around, comes around."

by: Brian0125 @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 04:48:50 AM UTC

by: you @ soon

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Senator Weinberg won when it counted. (0.00 / 0)

Senator Weinberg is still Senator today because she won that election.

She then won RE-ELECTION.

Your friends in Bergenfield, in the meantime lost the Mayor's race, Clancy had to step down and his buddy Ken Zisa got in trouble with the law. Your tax assessor got caught stealing tax payments, and your best bud Dennis Oury had to confess to being a felon AFTER he was summarily kicked out of Bergenfield by a Mayor who won election because your friends tried to forge his name.

I'd say, Loretta still comes out on top, while your friends need to slink away under the rocks from which they slithered.

Call this a win for your side if you want, but the public now knows what was going on. Which is why the good Dems keep winning in Bergenfield, and why Senator Weinberg will win re-election again.

Pop your champagne corks for Ms. Rabbitt if you must, like you did when Boss Joe escaped jailtime. Joe's Freeholder candidates still lost the Freeholder Board and the County Executive seat because of the taint of Pay to Play and the crimes in Bergenfield. The sad thing is they haven't quite figured out that they are losers yet. Real losers are always the last to know.

One Vote. Yours. It really does matter.

by: carolh @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 19:36:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why was this a trial by judge... (0.00 / 0)

...and not jury? Because corruption has become such a major issue in Bergen County of late, I think that a jury would be predisposed to a more liberal standard than the judge.

That may not necessarily be what constitutes due process, but I am not entirely sure that she and others like her deserve due process.

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 04:55:08 AM UTC

by: you @ soon

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The defendant gets to pick (0.00 / 0)

whether a judge or a jury. Elaine Rabbit picked the "Judge only" trial. To Brian 0125: Thank you for your input. Your point of view is quite transparent! I'm sure we'll have plenty of chances for interchanges.

by: Senator Loretta Weinberg @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 17:55:36 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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smart defendant (0.00 / 0)

I think that a jury would have convicted her.

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Sat Feb 19, 2011 at 06:55:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]