| Middlesex County Democratic Chairman Joseph Spicuzzo has turned himself in to face corruption charges according to NJ.com. We'll learn more at a 10:30AM press conference. As you'll see in our archives, Spicuzzo has had his share of controversies and Blue Jersey user kwilkinson warned: "we need to clean house in Middlesex county or the Democrats will continue lose seats around the county. "
Update: Someone is floating former Labor Commissioner Kevin McCabe as a replacement to PolitickerNJ.
Update 2: Statement from New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman John Wisniewski:
"I am disappointed and disheartened by the report today that former Sheriff Joe Spicuzzo has turned himself in to the State Police to face charges that allegedly touch on his tenure as Sheriff," said Wisniewski. "While Joe is entitled, under our Constitution, to the presumption of innocence, for the good of his family, our system of government and the Democratic party, he ought to consider stepping aside from his roles as a Commissioner of the Sports & Exposition Authority and Chairman of the Middlesex County Democratic Organization."
Update 3: Here is the NJ Attorney General's press release. Remember it is the prosecutor's side of the story:
It is alleged that on two or more occasions from 2007 to 2008, while serving as county sheriff, Spicuzzo demanded that different individuals pay him bribes in return for him appointing them as new sheriff's investigators or promoting them within the sheriff's office. Sheriff's officers are hired through the civil service system, but sheriff's investigators are appointed by the sheriff. It is alleged that Spicuzzo solicited and accepted individual bribes of up to $25,000 from new hires for investigator positions. He allegedly took bribes totaling at least $50,000...
The state's investigation revealed that young applicants who were trying to obtain law enforcement positions as investigators were forced to use all sources of funding available to them to pay the alleged bribes. It is alleged that Spicuzzo also solicited bribes from more senior members of the office seeking promotion to new positions.
Chris Christie keeps telling me to get rid of civil service rules but this is an interesting counter example.
For the Democratic party, it's worse since a man who [allegedly] demands bribes for a law enforcement job is completely unfit to choose political candidates. Even worse, this is where tolerating sexual harassers in the party gets us. [Final Update: See comments for how the last statement is poorly phrased.]
Update 4: Spicuzzo has resigned as Middlesex County Democratic Chairman. |
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