Anthony Chiappone

Assembly Anthony Chiappone (D-Bayonne), who along with his wife was indicted this afternoon for allegedly funneling staffer’s paychecks into his 2005 reelection campaign ad for personal use, declared his innocence and said he has no plans to drop his reelection campaign.

“I’m still running,” he said. I’m very upset and disappointed with the charges.  I’m still processing it at this time.  For me, quite honestly, nothing changes.  I don’t intend to resign.  I’m innocent of the charges.  I intend to not come off the ballot – I’m sure that’s what, god knows, who prompted this investigation wants, but that’s not happening.”

Minutes after Chiappone talked to PolitickerNJ.com, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) issued a statement announcing that he is suspending Chiappone’s salary and stripping him or his committee assignments.  Roberts ualso rged Chiappone to resign.

Gov. Jon Corzine has also called for Chiappone's resignation.

“This indictment is disappointing and disturbing and Assemblyman Chiappone should do what’s best for his constituents and the Assembly and resign from office,” said Roberts.  “The presumption of innocence is a foundation of our democracy, but serving in the Legislature is a privilege, not a right. It’s clear that Assemblyman Chiappone can no longer represent his constituents effectively.”

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.

Jersey City attorney Irene Kim Asbury, the Republican candidate for State Assembly in the 31st district, addresses a group in Jersey City.

A first in New Jersey political history: the announcement that Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone (D-Bayonne) has been indicted on state corruption charges will be the first time two sitting Assemblymen from the same district will be charged with crimes at the same time.  Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith (D-Jersey City) was arrested in July.  Chiappone and Smith were running mates in the Hudson County-based 31st district in 2007.

Smith has refused calls by state Democratic leaders to resign, and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts has suspended his pay and stripped him of his committee assignments.  Smith was not a candidate for re-election at the time of his arrest; he gave up his seat to run unsuccessfully for Mayor of Jersey City last May.  His term in the Assembly expires in January.  Last spring, Democrats picked Charles Mainor, a Jersey City police detective, to run for his seat.

But Chiappone is the Democratic nominee for Assembly, running on Gov. Jon Corzine's ticket, and faces no legal obstacle to remaining in the race.  Republicans have never won the 31st district since its creation in 1973, and the last time a Republican represented this part of Jersey City or Bayonne in the Legislature was in 1921.

***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE***

ASSEMBLY CELEBRATES 'MARTIN BRODEUR DAY'

Chamber Honors NJ Devils Goaltender in Becoming the All-Time NHL Leader in Regular Season Wins by a Goaltender

(TRENTON) - Assembly Democrats today issued a multimedia package honoring New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur for achieving a record-setting 558 career wins, becoming the all-time NHL leader in regular season wins by a goaltender.

Brodeur, a West Orange resident who has played with the New Jersey Devils for his entire NHL career, surpassed the win record of 551 games, previously held by Patrick Roy, on March 17.

CHIAPPONE / RAMOS / EVANS BILL CREATING NJ COLON CANCER EDUCATION FUND CONTINUES ADVANCING

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly members Anthony Chiappone, Ruben J. Ramos, Jr. and Elease Evans to establish the “New Jersey Colon Cancer Education Fund” continues advancing toward law.

The legislation (A-2519) would allow taxpayers to voluntary contribute to the fund through a check-off on state corporate and personal income tax returns.

“Setting up an educational fund to help pay for the research and study of this tragic disease will hopefully lead to a cure so no future New Jersey family is forced to deal with this terrible diagnosis,” said Chiappone (D-Hudson).

QUIGLEY & CHIAPPONE: HUDSON COUNTY RESIDENTS SHOULD FEEL REASSURED N.J. IS READY TO RESPOND TO H1N1 FLU CONCERNS

(TRENTON) – Assemblywoman Joan M. Quigley and Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone today said Hudson County residents should feel reassured that the state is ready to respond as best as possible to the national outbreak of H1N1 Influenza, or the swine flu.

The Hudson County lawmakers participated Monday in a special joint hearing of the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee and the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee hearing on the flu and what it means for New Jersey. Both are members of the health panel.

CHIAPPONE / WISNIEWSKI / LAMPITT / BARNES / McKEON PACKAGE TO IMPROVE TEEN DRIVER SAFETY NOW LAW

(TRENTON) – Measures sponsored by Assembly members Anthony Chiappone, John S. Wisniewski, Pamela R. Lampitt, Peter J. Barnes III and John F. McKeon to improve teen driver safety in New Jersey was signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

The bills implement top recommendations of the state’s Teen Driver Study Commission.

The State Attorney General’s Office is investigating Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone (D-Bayonne) for allegedly forging signatures of Assembly aides on paychecks and cashing them, according to a Jersey Journal report.

Chiappone told the newspaper that detectives interviewed one current and five former Assembly aides, showing them copies of canceled checks and asking them to verify their signatures.  He said that he is going to the Attorney General’s office today without a lawyer to answer any questions they have.

In 2005, a former campaign worker for Chiappone, Michael Albanese, filed a police report accusing the Assemblyman of forging his signatures and depositing a $180 check.  At the time, Chiappone said that the check was mixed up with his mail and accidentally deposited by his wife.  Albanese later retracted his allegation and was charged with filing a false report, but worked for Chiappone’s 2007 reelection campaign. 

Charles Mainor, a 42-year-old Jersey City police detective, appears headed for the State Assembly.  He has emerged as the likely candidate of the Hudson County Democratic Organization in the 31st district, where Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith (D-Jersey City) is giving up his seat to run for Mayor.  He is expected to run with Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone (D-Bayonne), who has cut a deal with Democrats to keep his seat.  Mainor’s chief advocates were State Sen. Sandra Bolden Cunningham and longtime Democratic insider Joseph Cardwell, but Democrats say he has a solid relationship with the Mayor of Jersey City, Jerramiah Healy.  Sources say Mainor got the nod over Oren Dabney, who runs the Jersey City Incinerator Authority.

Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone (D-Bayonne) cut a deal to keep his seat in the Legislature, agreeing that he will not challenge Mayor Mark Smith in 2010.  In order to enforce the deal, Smith allies insisted that Chiappone give up his seat on the City Council – a move that keeps him out of city hall and distances him from local politics.   As part of the agreement for Chiappone to receive the Hudson County Democratic Organization line, State Sen.  Sandra Bolden Cunningham (D-Jersey City) is now expected to endorse the re-election of Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, and Bayonne Democrats will continue to back Healy for Hudson County Democratic Chairman.