http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/ex-jersey_city_deputy_mayor_as.html
"Political contributions are not bribes," asserts Leona Beldini's attorney who is defending the former Jersey City mayor convicted of bribery charges as part of a massive corruption sting that took place in New Jersey last year. Beldini was accused of accepting $20,000 in campaign contributions in return for her help in securing building contracts. The jury found Beldini guilty on two counts of bribery, but innocent on the remaining four, the basic of the defendant's appeal for an inconsistent verdict. However, a successfully appeal seems unlikely. While certain political contributions are not illegal, graft is.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Draining the Sestak Tank
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/19/anatomy-scandal-curious-case-joe-sestaks-job-offer/?test=latestnews
Beginning last month, an ongoing political cold war of sorts has ensued between Representative Joe Sestak (D-PA) and the Obama White House. In February Joe Sestak made the allegation that the Obama Administration had offered him a high ranking White House position in return for him dropping out of the US Senate race in Pennsylvania, in which Sestak would be running against incumbent Arlen Specter (D-PA) in the primary. However, neither the White House nor Sestak has had much to say on the issue. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has been faced with numerous questions over the span of weeks pertaining to the issue, but has consistently offered up nothing more than that he would get back to us. Likewise, other than asserting that he was offered a position within the Obama administration, Sestak has elaborated no further. Whether or not the the alleged bribe actually happened, or is a political ploy to damage the image of the Obama White House, the issue is likely to die down as neither side seems interested in pushing forward.
Video of White House Press Secretary Gibbs dodging questions about the Sestek scandal:
http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/03/19/white-house-press-corp-vs-gibbs-on-sestak/
Beginning last month, an ongoing political cold war of sorts has ensued between Representative Joe Sestak (D-PA) and the Obama White House. In February Joe Sestak made the allegation that the Obama Administration had offered him a high ranking White House position in return for him dropping out of the US Senate race in Pennsylvania, in which Sestak would be running against incumbent Arlen Specter (D-PA) in the primary. However, neither the White House nor Sestak has had much to say on the issue. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has been faced with numerous questions over the span of weeks pertaining to the issue, but has consistently offered up nothing more than that he would get back to us. Likewise, other than asserting that he was offered a position within the Obama administration, Sestak has elaborated no further. Whether or not the the alleged bribe actually happened, or is a political ploy to damage the image of the Obama White House, the issue is likely to die down as neither side seems interested in pushing forward.
Video of White House Press Secretary Gibbs dodging questions about the Sestek scandal:
http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/03/19/white-house-press-corp-vs-gibbs-on-sestak/
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Corruption probe orchestrated to elect NJ Gov Christie?
http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2010/03/there_was_an_attempt_to_use_a.html
In a complicated developing story, former NJ assemblyman Louis Manzo is accusing NJ governor Chris Christie of encouraging a massive corruption sting to promote himself in the gubernatorial race. Ironically, Manzo, along with his brother, is a victim of the sting, charged with accepting bribes totalling over $27, 000. Manzo claims to have sufficient evidence showing that the string was carried out by a number of people who stood to personally benefit from a Christie victory, generally US and assistant US attorneys prosecuting cases uncovered during the sting who made their way to state jobs after Christie took office. In response to Manzo's accusations, a Christie spokesperson responded, "He (Manzo) appears to be just another former public official in New Jersey charged with corruption who wants to divert attention from his own conduct." Another victim of the sting was Jersey City deputy mayor and former burlesque dancer Leona Beldini (aka Hope Diamond), found guilty in February of accepting bribes from Solomon Dwek, the same FBI informant who bagged Manzo.
In a complicated developing story, former NJ assemblyman Louis Manzo is accusing NJ governor Chris Christie of encouraging a massive corruption sting to promote himself in the gubernatorial race. Ironically, Manzo, along with his brother, is a victim of the sting, charged with accepting bribes totalling over $27, 000. Manzo claims to have sufficient evidence showing that the string was carried out by a number of people who stood to personally benefit from a Christie victory, generally US and assistant US attorneys prosecuting cases uncovered during the sting who made their way to state jobs after Christie took office. In response to Manzo's accusations, a Christie spokesperson responded, "He (Manzo) appears to be just another former public official in New Jersey charged with corruption who wants to divert attention from his own conduct." Another victim of the sting was Jersey City deputy mayor and former burlesque dancer Leona Beldini (aka Hope Diamond), found guilty in February of accepting bribes from Solomon Dwek, the same FBI informant who bagged Manzo.
"Quiet Corruption" Making Noise in Africa
http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/africa/World-Bank-Report-Claims-Quiet-Corruption-in-Africa-87800482.html
The World Bank has released a report concluding that so-called "quiet corruption" is causing as much if not more problems for ordinary citizens than does more typical forms of corruption like bribing for government contracts, etc. "Quiet corruption" basically refers to corruption stemming from individual public sector employees failing to deliver government services such as education and health care. By falling short on their duties, these government employees deprive citizens of the most basic necessities, resulting in recurring systemic harm. Although "quiet corruption" does not receive the same attention as its more lucrative counterpart, its impact and reach may far surpass that of million-dollar bribery and extortion scandals.
The World Bank has released a report concluding that so-called "quiet corruption" is causing as much if not more problems for ordinary citizens than does more typical forms of corruption like bribing for government contracts, etc. "Quiet corruption" basically refers to corruption stemming from individual public sector employees failing to deliver government services such as education and health care. By falling short on their duties, these government employees deprive citizens of the most basic necessities, resulting in recurring systemic harm. Although "quiet corruption" does not receive the same attention as its more lucrative counterpart, its impact and reach may far surpass that of million-dollar bribery and extortion scandals.
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