Judge denies DiFrancesco bid to move sexual harassment case to Somerset

A move by lawyers for former Governor Donald DiFrancesco to move a sexual harassment suit against him from Essex County to Somerset County was denied.  The plaintiff, former prosecutor Michelle D'Onofio, claims DiFrancesco harassed her and ten fired him from his law firm after she filed an ethics complaint against Warren Township Municipal Court Judge Richard Sasso, a friend of the ex-Governor, for drinking on the job.  D’Onofio suggested that Judges in Somerset have too many ties to DiFrancesco and his law partner, State Senator Christopher Bateman.

If you've followed New Jersey politics closely for the last decade or so, you'll know that allegations like this against DiFrancesco are no big surprise. During his year as Governor, one prominent New York Times reporter made a considerable effort to track down a story about DiFrancesco and a lobbyist; he dropped his bid for a full-term as Governor amidst reports of ethical improprieties before the reporter could finish that story.  There are more stories like this - none in the public domain - so DiFrancesco's move to seal discussions of his sexual history should have been expected.  One of the reasons he ended his campaign for Governor is that he didn't want to be asked about these rumors - and didn't want his wife and daughters to endure it.  2008 will be no different, and one high-level Republican strongly suggested that DiFrancesco will settle his case with D'Onofio if the court rules against this motion.