Coniglio probe pushes Hodes to get a lawyer
By EditorLobbyist Harold Hodes, a top advisor to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in New Jersey and one of the state’s most powerful political insiders, has retained a prominent criminal defense attorney as part of the federal corruption probe of State Sen. Joseph Coniglio, according to several sources.
Public Strategies/Impact, Hodes’ firm, has represented Hackensack University Medical Center, which employed Coniglio as a plumbing consultant. The hospital received over $1 million in state grants while the Bergen County Democrat was on their payroll.
Hodes has not received a target letter from the U.S. Attorney’s office, according to people with knowledge of the Coniglio investigation, but is being represented by Justin Walder. Walder’s partner, Joseph Hayden, said his firm does not comment on who their clients are. Hodes did not return repeated phone calls to his office, home and cell phone over the last several weeks seeking comment.
Coniglio’s lawyer, Gerald Krovatin, also declined to comment on Hodes’ involvement in the federal probe. Federal prosecutors advised Coniglio that he was a target of a federal investigation related to the state budget last July.
Nearly forty leaders of Clinton’s New Jersey campaign were in Washington on Tuesday to meet with the Democratic presidential candidate, but Hodes was not in attendance. Clinton will address the New Jersey Democratic State Committee’s Annual Conference in Atlantic City on Friday.
Hodes, 65, served as Executive Assistant to Newark Mayor Kenneth Gibson before becoming Chief of Staff to Governor Brendan Byrne. He was the first President of the New Jersey Devils before starting his lobbying firm in the 1980’s.
Contributors
Wally Edge
The GOP seems to be gearing up for a real Senate confirmation hearing if Governor Jon Corzine reappoints Barry Albin to the New Jersey Supreme ... >
Bob Torricelli
It's hard to not be concerned these days. We've all witnessed frustration with our institutions before but I never remember anything of this ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
Instead of borrowing trillions to waste on make-work governmental projects, stimulate the economy with tax cuts. >
Debbie Holtz
Score one for the Governor’s public relations team. For the last few weeks, they have been working overtime to fuel speculation Corzine was being ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
I am pleased to report the results from the first national poll conducted by Environmental Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at ... >
Rob Tornoe
Joey Novick
Hard to believe we have arrived at the last year of the first decade of the 21st century. Boy, seems like it was just yesterday that Bush was handed ... >
Juan Melli
It's actually come to this: A panel convened by the legislature of the State of New Jersey has concluded that discrimination is not good. Maybe ... >
Carla Katz
As it tends to, history seems to be repeating itself as 240 laid-off workers at Republic Windows and Doors in Chicago revive a decades old tactic -- ... >
Patricia Quattrocchi
Many columnists write a "year in review" or a "predictions" piece for the New Year, however I decided to refrain from going down ... >
Murray Sabrin
Five Democrat governors including New Jersey’s Jon Corzine and New York’s David Paterson have called upon the incoming Obama administration to ... >
Hot Topics
| Politicker INTERACTIVE | |
 |
Lawmaker Profile Follow the funding of your representatives |
 |
270 to Win See how Obama got to the magic number |
Most Active Stories
- Healy and Stack and the late Glenn Cunningham
- Kyrillos: 'We need a leader like Chris Christie'
- Lonegan camp says they qualify for matching funds
- Reilly joins Codey staff
- Merkt fights perceived Christie canonization in Passaic County
- Holt decides to run for assembly instead of state senate
- U.S. Rep. Adler assumes seat on financial services committee
- Manzo to unveil slate next week
- Rule him out of District 36 Assembly run, says Scarpelli
- Between Newark and Elizabeth, the election year forces of Hillside begin to mobilize
- Correction: Weiner departure was not his own idea
- Torricelli on COAH
- Two N.J. super delegates go to Obama; Norcross backs Obama; key Clinton supporters endorse Obama
- At energy policy meeting, Rose fights with cabinet and walks away
- Sixteen Democrats are on Norcross' short list for Andrews House seat
- Jackson will be Corzine's new Chief of Staff
- Roughneen in court today on signature challenge
- Obama bundler says he lost $25 billion of N.J. pension funds
- Weinberg loses life savings in Madoff Ponzi scheme
- New Jersey's Most Powerful Law Firms
Recent Posts From Inside Edge
Quote of the Day
"Suppose you get stuck with a stiff? You want to pay him more money?" -- Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello, on legislating a pay raise for his successor.
Recent Press Releases
- Jan 8 2009
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Yudin may be waffling on word to GOP boss ― CHARLES STILE
The City Boss Becomes the Country Boss ― DICK BENFIELD...MUST READ
Ferriero's support a curse for Kasparian? ― CHARLES STILE...MUST READ
Trenton must stop thinking outside box― DOUG FORRESTER
Three's a crowd, but one man isn't a party― ALFRED DOBLIN
Newspaper Shuns Web, and Thrives― DAN JACOBSON
Murder charge for Prisco― ANGELO PRISCO
Healy: Have yourself a merry little Christmas with my CD― JERSEY JOURNAL
Time for BCDO to clean up its act ― CHARLES STILE
Madoff investors will have trouble getting money back― FRANK LAUTENBERG
Syndicate
Politicsnj withheld an
Politicsnj withheld an important story for several weeks?
"Several Sources"
I seriously hope these leaks are not coming from law enforcement. If information about investigations was being selectively leaked by law enforcement for politics, or some other, non-investigative reason, that would be a shame and would be degrading to all of the non-political federal law enforcement officials who work so hard to do their jobs with a blind eye towards politics.
of course...
woodrowwilson... i would like to share your sentiments about the higher ethics of law enforcement officers. However sad it may seem, law enforcement leak investigative information to the press, it's a tatic -- a poor one, which is often dictated by politics and maybe even money.
Humpty Dumpty...
Sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty will have a great fall. All the Chairman's horse and all the Chairman's men cannot put Humpty Dumpty back together again. The way things are progessing, half the Democratic legislature should be receiving target letters by October, just in time to cash the state property rebate checks for a collective criminal defense.
Leaks from law enforcement?
...what was Al Steele's full-time job in Passaic County? Ah, that's right, Under Sheriff... If the leaks are not coming out, the bribes must be coming in. Get a GRIP, Woodrow.