Chiappone and his wife indicted

By Matt Friedman | August 26th, 2009 - 3:36pm
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Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone (D-Bayonne) and his wife, Diane, face a seven count indictment today on charges that they funneled legislative paychecks for aides into Chiappone’s 2005 campaign account and a personal account.

State Attorney General Anne Milgram said that Chiappone issued $7,532 in paychecks to a legislative aide, who in turn donated all of the money to the campaign along with $629 to a woman who they falsely claimed was a legislative aide.  

The state charges that that more than half of the money -- $4,299 – was deposited for personal use, and that the rest was put into the campaign account but not reported to the Election Law Enforcement Commission.  

“We charge that Assemblyman Chiappone and his wife conspired to have the state issue more than $8,000 in paychecks for legislative aides, knowing that the money was really destined for the couple's own pockets or his re-election campaign,” said Attorney General Milgram. “This indictment chronicles a betrayal of the public trust by this elected official.”

The counts are for conspiracy, official misconduct, theft by deception, tampering with public records or information, falsifying or tampering with records, and concealment or misrepresentation of contributions or expenditures

Chiappone was elected to the assembly in 2003, and the donations in question were for his 2005 Democratic primary campaign, which he lost.  He came back two years later to win a second, non-successive term, and is running for reelection this year.

She's a firecracker...

State Attorney General Anne Milgram is something. A regular Angela Lansbury. Nothing gets past her keen eye...except maybe the other 131 corrupt NJ officials.

MORE corrupt NJ Democrats?????

New Jersey needs to drain the swamp.

Elvis lives

And the irony here is this legislative aide is an Elvis impersonator!

How Long Before the Dems Accuse Milgram of Targeting Democrats?

How long before Corzine and Democrats start accusing Anne Milgram of selectively targeting Democrats to help Chris Christie?? lol

Let's see: they've already smeared Brown and Marra. Anne Milgram sounds like she's next on the list.

Chiappone's Legislative Aide

I don't believe the Legislative Aide that was involved in this give-back or "donation" of State paychecks was the Elvis impersonator. I believe the legislative aide that was involved in this scam is Bayonne's current Third Ward City Councilman. Hang on for the ride folks...!!!!

Jailhouse Rock

Anyone else tired of this?

Every time I think New Jersey corruption might not make the news for a while, I'm wrong.

Wake-Up Call

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