Federal authorities are investigating possible corruption in a Newark government agency that was chaired by Democratic senator Cory Booker of New Jersey. The New York Post has the story:
The inquiry centers on alleged misappropriation of taxpayer funds first uncovered by the New Jersey Comptroller’s Office and a local watchdog group.
While Booker — who is now a US senator — served as the agency’s ex-officio chairman between 2007 and 2012, his former law firm, Trenk, DiPasquale, Webster, raked in $1 million in legal fees. Elnardo Webster, Booker’s 2006 campaign treasurer, served as the authority’s general counsel.
The Post previously reported that the law firm paid Booker $700,000 — even after he became mayor. Booker claims the payments were part of a “separation agreement” for work done before he was elected.
While Booker — who is now a US senator — served as the agency’s ex-officio chairman between 2007 and 2012, his former law firm, Trenk, DiPasquale, Webster, raked in $1 million in legal fees. Elnardo Webster, Booker’s 2006 campaign treasurer, served as the authority’s general counsel.
The Post previously reported that the law firm paid Booker $700,000 — even after he became mayor. Booker claims the payments were part of a “separation agreement” for work done before he was elected.
The Booker campaign tells the Post the Newark Democrat is not guilty of wrongdoing.
Booker’s opponents have picked up on other questions about whether the former mayor of Newark has personally profited from his political career. And the increased scrutiny of Booker has made his race with long-shot Republican challenger Jeff Bell tighter than expected.
Over at National Review Online, Quin Hillyer examines Bell’s candidacy and the race against Booker.
When I caught up with Bell by phone Friday afternoon, he was riding the encouragement from a new poll out that day from Stockton College that found him closing within nine points of Booker, 48–39, with the incumbent not even able to break 50 percent when “leaners” were included in the tally. Booker’s negative job ratings were up from 37 percent (in the previous Stockton poll) to 42, his job approval at 50 — while Bell, a conservative Republican in left-leaning New Jersey without the money to fend off the usual Democratic attacks, enjoys remarkably positive 38–18 positive/negative ratings.
“I’m having a blast,” Bell said. “I’m 70 years old, not trying to start a career, just saying exactly what I think, and it’s really been fun. And voters seem to sense that, and seem to like a candidate who’s willing to give his views honestly whether or not there’s any evidence those views are popular in his state.”
Meanwhile, he said, “Booker is not acting like a candidate who has this put away. He has started kicking the cr** out of me; he’s started this war-on-women nonsense. Why would he shift into the war-on-women theme if the race is over? I think he’s worried about some of the corruption issues that are out there.”
“I’m having a blast,” Bell said. “I’m 70 years old, not trying to start a career, just saying exactly what I think, and it’s really been fun. And voters seem to sense that, and seem to like a candidate who’s willing to give his views honestly whether or not there’s any evidence those views are popular in his state.”
Meanwhile, he said, “Booker is not acting like a candidate who has this put away. He has started kicking the cr** out of me; he’s started this war-on-women nonsense. Why would he shift into the war-on-women theme if the race is over? I think he’s worried about some of the corruption issues that are out there.”
Read the whole thing here.
