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There are two ways Bob Menendez is generally described. One way is that he was, for some time, the boss of Hudson County. He was very careful to keep his own hands clean - even going as far as selling out his mentor Musto - but the county was his chessboard and he called the shots. The other way is that he is basically a somewhat decent guy whose chief fault is that he is stubbornly loyal to his friends - even when they do stupid things that can come back to bite him in the butt.
Whichever way you want to look at him, the 2006 campaign for the Senate laid bare a lot of sordid details. One of those details was that his long-time friend, Donald Scarinci, was still working for Menendez. This, despite the fact that Scarinci was recorded trying to arrange favors in Menendez' name. Whether or not it was with Menendez' blessing - well, only Scarinci and Menendez know for sure. Politically, though, Menendez waited far too long to cut ties with his old buddy.
Jon Corzine generally has a reputation as being above being bought. But he can be hoodwinked. And he's a little naive at times. And he can also be loyal to the wrong people. How can the sitting Governor applaud his Deputy Chief of Staff for admitting in open court that he had no problem helping people take bribes? It borders on insanity - this need to stand by every single person regardless of the facts. I'm not advocating selling out your friends at the first sign of problems - but when your friends have committed illegal acts...Come on!
So now, Frank Lautenberg looks to be facing his own moment of omerta. Does he stand by Vincent Rigolosi or does he cut him loose?
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