James W. Pindell's blog

The Hudson County Prosecutor has dropped his investigation of Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero.

A nearly three month investigation into whether former Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero committed any type of sexual misconduct during a Labor Day BBQ he hosted has been closed and no charges will be filed, according to Hudson County Prosecutor Ed DeFazio.

DeFazio told PolitickerNJ.com the allegations were "ambiguous" as to what was said to have occurred at Ferriero's Old Tappan residence, but that after conducting formal interviews with the accuser, party attendees, and even a voluntary interview with Ferriero himself no crime could be substantiated.

"We are pleased that after a thorough investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office during which both Mr. Ferriero and his wife, Diana, gave full statements this matter has been closed and no criminal charges will be filed," said Joseph Hayden, Ferriero's attorney, in a statement released today.  "As we stated at the outset, this was an annual family barbecue involving three generations of the Ferriero family and their friends and there wa snever any inappropriate conduct by anyone at the family event."

If Democrats wind up with 59 U.S. Senate seats on Election Day, they can still reach the magic filibuster-proof number of 60 if the new President appoints Republican Olympia Snowe to his cabinet. The Governor of Maine, John Baldacci, would presumably appoint a fellow Democrat to serve until a November 2010 special election to fill the balance of Snowe's term.

Clinton and Corzine: Getty ImagesWhile some exit polls suggested otherwise, NBC News and Fox News project Hillary Clinton the winner of the New Jersey Democratic Primary.

It should be noted that CNN has not called the state's Democratic race.

McCain in New Jersey: Photo by Getty ImagesSeveral television networks have declared John McCain the winner of the New Jersey Republican primary by a sizable margin.