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Top Dem fund-raiser charged with trying to block federal probe The Associated Press 7/13/2004, 12:40 p.m. ET 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, of Livingston, is charged with conspiracy, obstructing a federal investigation and...

<p>July 14, 2004 -- The top fund-raiser for New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey hired a New York City prostitute to seduce a key witness in a federal fraud case — and then sent a steamy videotape of the encounter to the witness' wife, prosecutors said yesterday. In a scenario right out of a pulp crime novel, real-estate developer Charles Kushner — who was aware he was being pursued by the feds for tax fraud and illegal campaign contributions — personally offered the hooker up to $10,000 to do the dirty deed on tape with the witness, U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie said.</p>

<p>The accountant who claimed last year that real estate magnate Charles Kushner improperly diverted millions of dollars for personal and political use charges in a new lawsuit that Kushner vowed "to ruin" his life after learning of the allegations.</p> <p>Robert Yontef said Kushner made the promise last June, after Yontef began cooperating with Kushner's brother and partner, Murray Kushner, in a fierce feud over the family's holdings.</p>

<p>Even as Gov. James E. McGreevey publicly stood by Charles Kushner yesterday, people close to the governor were quietly urging the embattled developer to surrender his bid to become chairman of the Port Authority, three sources familiar with the talks said yesterday.</p>

Pledge to yield $113,000 is largest from a politician U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine and a national Democratic fund-raising committee he runs are giving up $113,000 in campaign contributions received over the years from real estate developer Charles Kushner, party officials said yesterday. Kushner was arrested Tuesday by federal agents on charges of obstructing a federal investigation into his finances and campaign contributions. Prosecutors accuse him of hiring prostitutes to have sex with two government witnesses, and say he sent a secretly recorded videotape of an encounter between a prostitute and one of the witnesses -- identified by sources as Kushner's...

Kushner allegedly interfered with probe NEWARK The man, described by his well-tanned attorney as "one of the great philanthropists of this century," had no belt, no tie. But Charlie Kushner, the multimillion-dollar real estate mogul who became Governor McGreevey's top campaign contributor, definitely had leg irons and handcuffs as he shuffled into a federal courtroom Tuesday and came face to face with a problem that no amount of cash may erase. During the past two years, The Record has printed major investigative articles about fund-raising conflicts involving both Charles Kushner and Commerce Bank. For background on Tuesday's events, check: Paying...

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has entered into conciliation agreements with Charles Kushner, a New Jersey-based real estate developer, and 40 partnership entities he controls. The agreements settle an investigation stemming from over $500,000 in contributions that the partnerships made without obtaining the agreement of the individual partners to whom the contributions were attributed. The contributions were made between December 5, 1997 and August 17, 2000 for the 1999-2000 election cycle. Recipients of these contributions included 13 candidate committees, one party committee and one PAC. The conciliation agreement with the Kushner Respondents resulted in a civil penalty of $508,900. The...

FEC levels one of largest fines against NJ developer Wednesday June 30, 2004 By DONNA DE LA CRUZ Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) The Federal Election Commission on Wednesday leveled one of its largest fines ever against a New Jersey developer for contributing money to political candidates in the names of his partnerships when he did not have the authority to do so. Charles Kushner, a major Democratic Party donor, agreed to pay FEC $508,900, said FEC spokesman George Smaragdis. The FEC investigation focused on $540,900 contributed to various political candidates and committees between Dec. 5, 1997 and Aug. 17,...

<p>TRENTON -- Wealthy developer Charles Kushner twice amended his financial disclosure statement last week to clarify his relationship with NorCrown Bank, trying but failing to quell demands for him to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee.</p> <p>At one point last week, Kushner's lawyer said his client owned nearly 100 percent of the bank, which would make hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations he has made illegal. The lawyer retracted that, but critics say Kushner still isn't forthcoming in ethics disclosures.</p>