Posted on 07/13/2004 2:20:52 PM PDT by HAL9000
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Federal prosecutors have charged Gov. James E. McGreevey's top fund-raiser with hiring a prostitute to try to thwart a federal probe, authorities said Tuesday.Real estate developer Charles Kushner hired a New York City call girl to have sex with a witness in the investigation, had the sex act videotaped and sent the witness' wife a copy of the tape, U.S. attorney Christopher J. Christie said.
Kushner, 50, is charged with conspiracy, obstructing a federal investigation and promoting interstate prostitution, Christie said.
Kushner was under criminal investigation for possible tax fraud and illegal campaign contributions, said Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Last month, Kushner was fined $508,900 by the Federal Election Law Enforcement Commission for contributing money to political candidates in the names of his companies without authority to do so.
Christie scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference to discuss the charges. Kushner was scheduled to appear in court at 3:30 p.m.
Since his first gubernatorial campaign in 1997, McGreevey has received at least $369,050 from Kushner, family members and employees of his Florham Park-based firm. These funds account for nearly 5 percent of the $7.9 million in donations McGreevey has raised in the last decade.
Kushner's firm, The Kushner Companies, worth $1 billion, owns or manages 20,000 apartments in New Jersey and several other states, builds 500 to 1,000 new homes a year and has commercial properties in New York, Newark, Jersey City, Plainsboro, Hoboken and several other localities.
In February 2003, Kushner withdrew as McGreevey's nominee to head the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. At the time, Kushner was the target of lawsuits contending he improperly used business funds for personal and political purposes.
Kushner denied any wrongdoing and McGreevey refused to back away from the appointment despite months of questions about the nominee's background and campaign donations.
McGreevey's office did not immediately return a call seeking comment. A call to Kushner's office seeking comment was not immediately returned.
Hmmm... no mention of party affiliation. Wonder why.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1170587/posts
Been there done that Hal
If Kerry gets elected maybe Kushner's wife and buddies can raise a lot of cash for Kerry 2008 and then Kerry will grant a pardon. It worked for Marc Rich.
He's a dem.
P A U
Politics as Usual
See, timing is everything!! If Reno and Freeh (?) were still running Justice, this matter never would have seen the light of day!
Oha, that's why.
At least in part.
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