Ethics Newsline®

VARIOUS DATELINES
Stories on three continuing issues made headlines this week:

• The state of New Jersey has been rocked by another public corruption scandal: a sweep that culminated in the arrests of 11 public officials, reports CNN. Those arrested include state assemblymen, a mayor, a chief of staff for a city council president, and five current and former school board members in the town of Pleasantville, near Atlantic City. All are accused of accepting bribes from various firms in order to secure public contracts. In recent years New Jersey has endured a drumbeat of stories involving allegations of public corruption.
• Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), caught up in an ethics scandal after pleading guilty to a disorderly conduct misdemeanor involving charges he solicited sex from an undercover policeman in an airport bathroom, still plans to resign his seat, according to a report from Bloomberg. Craig said on September 1 that he “intended” to resign but later indicated he would fight to clear his name and might try to finish his term. Craig’s spokesman on Friday told Bloomberg the senator still “expects” to resign at month’s end and is actively planning his transition.
• Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.), indicted on federal bribery charges, last week filed court papers claiming he did nothing wrong and asking that the trial be moved to Washington, insisting that prosecutors brought the case against him in Virginia because there would be fewer black jurors in the overall pool, the Washington Post reports. Prosecutors denied any racial motives. Jefferson is charged with taking bribes to use his official position to further the interests of several private businesses. An FBI raid found $90,000 in cash hidden in a freezer of his home.