Gerald Krovatin

Harold Hodes, a lobbyist for the Hackensack University Medical Center, has retained legal counsel for the probe of State Sen. Joe ConiglioLobbyist Harold Hodes, a top advisor to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in New Jersey and one of the state’s most powerful political insiders, has retained a prominent criminal defense attorney as part of the federal corruption probe of State Sen. Joseph Coniglio, according to several sources.

Public Strategies/Impact, Hodes’ firm, has represented Hackensack University Medical Center, which employed Coniglio as a plumbing consultant. The hospital received over $1 million in state grants while the Bergen County Democrat was on their payroll.

Hodes has not received a target letter from the U.S. Attorney’s office, according to people with knowledge of the Coniglio investigation, but is being represented by Justin Walder.  Walder’s partner, Joseph Hayden, said his firm does not comment on who their clients are.  Hodes did not return repeated phone calls to his office, home and cell phone over the last several weeks seeking comment.

When PoliticsNJ.com listed criminal defense attorney Gerald Krovatin as #92 on the list of New Jersey’s 100 Most Powerful People last month, this website wrote: “When allegedly corrupt politicians turn to you to keep them out of jail, you have power.”

Now, Krovatin may be on his way up the list.  He is representing State Senator Joseph Coniglio, who has received a letter from the U.S. Attorney informing him that he is the target of a federal criminal probe concerning the state budget.

GREGG TO ATTORNEY GENERAL FARBER:
DO THE TAXPAYERS A FAVOR AND RESIGN