July 21, 2008 - 1:41pm

Press Release

Five GOP Senators Ask Judge to Send Message to the Corrupt

By Andrew Pratt

Five Republican senators have sent a letter to Judge William Martini asking him to impose the maximum possible sentence on Sharpe James, the former senator and mayor of Newark, for his crimes against the citizens of Newark and the taxpayers of New Jersey. (Letter is attached.)

James was convicted of fraud in April for creating a scheme to sell city-owned land to a girlfriend for $46, 000 -- which she promptly sold at a $600, 000 profit. He was spared a trial on the gross abuse of city-issued credit cards.

The letter, signed by Senators William Baroni, Jennifer Beck, Gerald Cardinale, Joseph Kyrillos and Kevin O'Toole, asks that the judge do everything possible to strike a blow at New Jersey's culture of corruption.

The citizens of New Jersey can't afford the higher taxes and inferior services that result from corruption of local officials, school boards, and state government. Our state's economy suffers because of New Jersey's reputation with the world business community as a place where bribery and corruption are tolerated.

"We must send a message that our state has zero tolerance for such behavior. We urge Judge Martini to impose the maximum possible penalty on a public servant who dishonored himself and trampled the public trust that is vital to democratic government."

ANDREW PRATT can be reached via email at apratt@njleg.org.

Related topics: Sharpe James, Corruption, ethics, law

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