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Facing corruption trial, Menendez keeps a lid on successor talks

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file photo by Boyd Loving

By MATT FRIEDMAN

03/22/17 05:22 AM EDT

Shortly after Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez was indicted on corruption charges in 2015, former Sen. Robert Torricelli started meeting with New Jersey political insiders.

Menendez’s term expires in January 2019, but Torricelli was signaling his interest in the seat should Menendez step down sooner. All the while, though, he continued to voice his support for the embattled senator.

https://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2017/03/facing-corruption-trial-menendez-keeps-a-lid-on-successor-talks-110549

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Hudson County Machine: U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez is not the first Hudson County politician to be charged with coruption

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file photo by Boyd Loving

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, the former Union City mayor, was indicted on charges that include conspiracy to commit bribery and wire fraud. Here’s a list of some Hudson County politicians and power brokers who were charged and convicted on corruption counts

More details:  https://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2015/04/hudson_county_politics_convicted_of_corruption_cha.html

Thomas Whelan, former Jersey City mayor, John V. Kenny, former Jersey City mayor and county power broker; and Thomas Flaherty, former Jersey City City Council president:

William V. Musto, former Union City mayor: Musto was sentenced to prison in 1982 for helping mobsters and contractors pocket public money

Robert Janiszewski, former Hudson County executive: “Bobby J” pleaded guilty in 2002 to taking more than $100,000 in bribes.

David Friedland, former assemblyman and state senator: Friedland was convicted on racketeering charges in 1980,

Paul Byrne, admitted bagman for Janiszewski: took bribes for his best friend, Janiszewski.

Joe Barry, real estate mogul: Barry paid illegal kickbacks to Janiszewski.

Anthony Russo, former Hoboken mayor. Russo admitted to taking thousands of dollars in bribes from city contractors .

Peter Cammarano, former mayor of Hoboken. He pleaded guilty in federal court to taking $25,000 in bribes

Dennis Elwell, former mayor of Secaucus. Elwell collected $10,000 in bribes as part of Bid Rig III sting.

Edward Cheatam, former Jersey City Housing Authority director: Cheatam pleaded guilty to extortion conspiracy

Leona Beldini, former Jersey City Deputy Mayor: She was convicted of collecting $20,000 in illegal campaign contributions

Mariano Vega, former Jersey City Council President: Vega took $30,000 in illegal contributions

Joseph Cardwell, Hudson County political operative and former Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority commissioner: Cardwell collected $30,000 bribe

Philip Kenny, former Jersey City councilman. Kenny pleaded guilty of taking $5,000 bribe.

Nidia Davila-Colon, former Hudson County freeholder. Davila-Colon was convicted of passing bribes in 1999 to Janiszewski,

Bill Braker, former Hudson County freeholder. Pleaded guilty to attempted extortion.

Peter Perez, former North Bergen commission: Perez pleaded guilty in 2002 to accepting $26,000 in home improvements

Angelo J. Sarubbi, former North Bergen mayor: Sarubbi pleaded guilty in 1976 to extorting a kickback

Michael DiGiovanni, former North Bergen commissioner:  pleaded guilty to bribery.

https://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2015/04/hudson_county_politics_convicted_of_corruption_cha.html