July 21, 2008 - 11:25am
GOP senators call for maximum sentencing for James
By Max Pizarro
Category: LocalTags: Sharpe James, Kevin O'Toole, Joe Kyrillos, JENNIFER BECK, Gerald Cardinale, Bill Baroni
A week before former Newark Mayor (and state senator) Sharpe James is scheduled to to be sentenced in federal court, five state senators are requesting the maximum sentencing.
"We implore you," state senators Bill Baroni (R-Mercer), Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth), Gerald Cardinale (R-Begen), Joe Kyrillos (R-Monmouth), and Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex), said in a co-authored letter sent this morning to U.S. District Judge William Martini.
"I was surprised to see Sharpe James's attorney advocating for lesser sentencing," said Beck. "This is a mayor who openly abused his power in office. We are at a low point in terms of public trust, and if citizens don't believe in their public officials it erodes our ability to administer our democracy."
According to the Star-Ledger, James's attorneys plan to meet with Martini on Wednesday to urge him to impose far less than a decade in prison on the 72-year old former mayor, who was convicted earlier this year on corruption charges.
"The fraud must stop," the senators wrote in their three-paragraph letter to the judge. "The greed must stop. The only way for integrity and trust in government to be restored is for the public to witness that public officials are not above the law and will pay the heaviest price for breaking the law and violating their public duties."
Martini has scheduled James's sentencing for July 29.
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For what its worth
I'm behind the GOPers here. Once can make a strong case that for as much bad as Sharpe James did he did as much good, but everything positive that that man accomplished was completely torn to shreds by his abuse. Throw the book at him.
Pardon James and ... nominate him for LT with Corzine.
That would be the blockbuster ticket. That's what NJ waits for.
I have a major problem with
I have a major problem with any political party or legislator trying to exert influence over the judiciary. It seems like a thinly veiled attempt to get around the seperation of powers.
On this issue, I am mixed. 10 years seems like a long time when violent criminals get out in a lot less some time.
NJPol08
I agree with you on the influence of a trial by these GOP Sens, but I do not think 10 years is too much for this guy. He lived like a serious fat cat on public money for way too long. The abuse of public trust should be a severely punishable offense.
nice sound bite...
While I agree that the former Senator and Mayor should definitely be held accountable for his actions in defrauding the people he used to represent, I question the true motives of these five senators. If they are concerned about the integrity of the system and the perception of legislators, then why make the letter to the judge public? If they simply want their voices heard as citizens of New Jersey, and are trying to gain back some public trust, then why do they need to let everyone else know about it?
Should Sharpe James be punished for his actions? Absolutely. But I don't think I need these five Senators to tell me that.
10 years
As I sit here and try to give a good heart felt opinion on Mayor James I can’t help but feel bitter sweet about all of this. Mayor James has gotten away with IT for many years. By IT I mean all sorts of suspicious activities that the everyday citizen does not have privy too. If any Newark resident had a question or even a doubt about what he was doing with all the tax payer money, you were just told that the Mayor was handling it. No explanation what so ever. He always felt that he did not need to answer to anyone other then the people who were keeping him in office. Well I guess that he will now be answering to the judge who is going to put him in jail for quite sometime. I feel badly for him because he is an elder man now and maybe 10 to 20 yrs might seem a little harsh. BUT I don’t feel any pity for him because he knows that he ALWAYS GOT AWAY WITH IT.
Not this time Sharpe. You will get what is coming to you. Weather you like it or NOT you are going to jail………..
cc stern AND umdnj, ashcroft..includes but not limited to.
This sounds to me like 7 Republicans(Judge Martini, US Attorney) are beating up one convicted Democrat. It's very difficult to testify(under oath). Soon the 5 Republican Senators will be able to "judge" the actions of one of their own(a star, I might add).
Throw the Book at Him!
Politicans who violate the public trust need to be locked away for a long time. Current politicians need to learn that if you break the law, you will pay dearly. When people like Kushner and Lynch get 18 month sentences (and serve half of it), other corrupt officials are not deterred from crime. A 10 year sentence would certainly stop corruption cold!
"I figure people drift toward liberalism at a young age, and I always hope that they change when they see how the world really is.”
- Johnny Ramone
Why only Republican Senators?
Every honest Senator or for that matter, any politician performing their job as intended, that is not fleecing the system should want to clean up the bad image of their profession.
I guess those not demanding maximum sentencing are in fear of facing the same reaper.
(I would think that Kevin O'Toole would be walking on eggs rather than flaunting his arrogance on this.)
"A society that puts equality . . . ahead of freedom will end up with neither." ~ Milton Friedman.
Why only Republican Senators?
Every honest Senator or for that matter, any politician performing their job as intended, that is not fleecing the system should want to clean up the bad image of their profession.
I guess those not demanding maximum sentencing are in fear of facing the same reaper.
(I would think that Kevin O'Toole would be walking on eggs rather than flaunting his arrogance on this.)
"A society that puts equality . . . ahead of freedom will end up with neither." ~ Milton Friedman.