[Liz]

NorCrown Bank has 10 members of its board of directors, including Kushner. In June 2001, U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, D-N.J., joined the board of directors after his retirement from the Senate. Lautenberg was re-elected to the Senate last year and is no longer on the board.

Clintons got Kushner donations as did ex-Senator Torricelli. Now that he's out of work, the Torch is angling for business deals with real estate entities Kushner controls, hoping to become a developer. Torch a real estate developer? He's gonna give developers a "bad name."

[an amused spectator]

POLITICAL PAYOFFS 101: Port Boss Facing Suit Over Gifts (Torricelli, Clinton connection)
The New York Observer 2/17/2003 Tom McGeveran.

Let's not forget your post from a week or two ago. ;-)

[OldFriend]

And how much play will this get in the lamestream media?????

[holden]

That letter -- which apparently would make Kushner's campaign contributions to state candidates and parties illegal

Don't these clown reporters get it that it's not a lawyer's letter that "makes contributions illegal?" The facts underlying the situation do that. Geez, you think if the letter is retracted, amended or disavowed it could be legal again? Another product of our public schools this reporter no doubt is. < /yoda>

HF

[genefromjersey]

One of the ( to me ) surprising things about this whole mess is the attitude of Gannett Press, which can almost always be counted on to endorse Democrats, and to "smooth over", and " yes, but " any Democratic misconduct.

Gannett Press endorsed Mc Greevey - twice ; but, since his election, has actually taken the lead in exposing some of his shenanigans.

[mewzilla]

I see McSleazy is at it again.

[upchuck]

Amazing that this would come from a Gannett outfit. They own the Curious-Urinal here in Louisville. And that rag is as partisan as ever, maybe more.

[Redbob]

"People who own a majority interest in a state-chartered bank are prohibited by state law from making political contributions."

In fairness to Kushner, why should your investments determine whether or not you're permitted political speech?
Is that what the First Amendment says?

And that is what campaign contributions are: political speech.

[eureka!]

Mr. Bundle Bump. ;^)

[Tunehead54]

People who own a majority interest in a state-chartered bank are prohibited by state law from making political contributions. Kushner bought NorCrown Bank in 1996 but didn't detail how much of its stock he owned in a September disclosure statement.

---

I'm all for keeping dims in hot water (to appease PETA types I recommend we bring it to a boil - slowly) but this seems on its face to be an unconstitutional restriction of free speech.

Because you own a state regulated business you cannot make political donations? I'm not from New Jersey but I bet lawyers, doctors, hair stylists, pest control companies, etc. are state regulated. If state regulation applies to state chartered banks it seems all these companies and more could be similiarly restricted.

[Grampa Dave]

Kushner, the king rat of rat donors for the NJ area.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

From OpenSecrets.org

KUSHNER CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 N/A 6/25/2002 $5,000 DCCC/Non-Federal Account 5

KUSHNER, CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 12/6/2001 $600 Pascrell, Bill Jr

KUSHNER, CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 BRUCKNER PLAZA ASSOCIATES 6/29/2001 $5,000 HILLPAC

KUSHNER, CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 BRUCKNER PLAZA ASSOCIATES/PARTNER 2/14/2001 $1,000 Menendez, Robert

KUSHNER, CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 BRUCKNER PLAZA ASSOCIATES/PARTNER 2/14/2001 $1,000 Menendez, Robert

KUSHNER, CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 GENERAL GREENE VILLAGE ASSOC 12/31/2001 $15,000 Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte

KUSHNER, CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 KUSHNER COMPANIES 7/16/2001 $500 Assn for Commercial Real Estate

KUSHNER, CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 KUSHNER COMPANIES 12/21/2001 $1,000 Corzine, Jon S

KUSHNER, CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 KUSHNER COMPANIES 12/21/2001 $1,000 Corzine, Jon S

KUSHNER, CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 KUSHNER COMPANIES/CHIEF EXECUTIVE O 11/9/2001 $5,000 Liberal Party of New York State

KUSHNER, CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 KUSHNER COMPANIES/REAL ESTATE DEVEL 9/30/2002 $1,000 Swett, Katrina

KUSHNER, CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 NEW PUCK LLP 6/24/2002 $10,000 Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte

KUSHNER, CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 NEW PUCK LLP 9/11/2002 $100,000 DSCC/Non-Federal Building Fund

KUSHNER, CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 NEW PUCK LLP 9/30/2002 $100,000 DSCC/Non-Federal Unicorp Assoc

KUSHNER, CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 NEW PUCK LP 6/24/2002 $10,000 New Jersey Senate 2002

KUSHNER, CHARLES FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPM 2/14/2001 $1,500 Pascrell, Bill Jr

Kushner, Charles Florham Park, NJ 07932 Self/Executive 6/4/2002 $1,000 Holt, Rush

Kushner, Charles Florham Park, NJ 07932 Self/Executive 6/4/2002 $1,000 Holt, Rush

KUSHNER, CHARLES LIVINGSTON, NJ 07039 MILLBURN DEVELOPMENT CORP./PARTNER/ 10/16/2002 $1,000 Carden, Timothy L

KUSHNER, CHARLES LIVINGSTON, NJ 07932 KUSHNER COMPANIES/SELF 7/19/2001 $5,000 New Jersey United

KUSHNER, CHARLIE FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 BRUCKNER PLAZA ASSOCIATES/PARTNER 1/22/2002 $5,000 New Millenium PAC

KUSHNER, CHARLIE FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 QUAIL RIDGE ASSOCIATES/PARTNER 10/9/2001 $2,500 New Millenium PAC

KUSHNER, DANA FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 MARKET STREET APARTMENTS 10/24/2002 $1,000 Lautenberg, Frank R

KUSHNER, DARA FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 KUSHNER COMPANIES/PARTNER 10/23/2002 $1,000 Pascrell, Bill Jr

KUSHNER, DARA FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 LONG BROOK ASSOCIATES 12/31/2001 $15,000 Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte

KUSHNER, DARA FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 LONG BROOK ASSOCIATES LLC 6/29/2001 $5,000 HILLPAC

KUSHNER, DARA FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 LONG BROOK ASSOCIATES LLC 12/21/2001 $1,000 Corzine, Jon S

KUSHNER, DARA FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 LONG BROOK ASSOCIATES LLC 12/21/2001 $1,000 Corzine, Jon S

KUSHNER, DARA FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 LONG BROOK ASSOCIATES LLC 6/24/2002 $10,000 Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte

KUSHNER, DARA FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 LONG BROOK ASSOCIATES LLC 6/24/2002 $10,000 New Jersey Senate 2002

KUSHNER, DARA FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 MARKET STREET APARTMENTS LLC/PARTNE 10/16/2002 $1,000 Carden, Timothy L

Kushner, Dara Florham Park, NJ 07932 N/A/Homemaker 6/4/2002 $1,000 Holt, Rush

KUSHNER, DARA FLORHAM PARK, NJ 07932 PHEASANT HOLLOW ASSOCIATES/PARTNER 1/22/2002 $5,000 New Millenium PAC