Attorney General Anne Milgram announced that New Jersey Assemblyman (and former Bayonne Councilman) Anthony Chiappone and his wife were indicted Wednesday on charges they allegedly conspired to funnel more than $8,000 in state-issued paychecks for a legislative aide and a purported aide into their own personal bank accounts and into Chiappone’s 2005 Assembly campaign.
Chiappone represents the 31st District, which includes Bayonne and some of Jersey City.
The couple allegedly had $7,532 in paychecks issued to one legislative aide, who donated all of his checks to the campaign. The defendants allegedly diverted $4,299 in checks into their bank accounts for personal use, as well as a $629 paycheck issued to a woman they claimed was another legislative aide.
While the remaining checks from the male aide did get deposited into the campaign’s bank account, the defendants allegedly failed to include those contributions in reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).
Chiappone, who was first elected to the Assembly in 2003, lost the Democratic primary in June 2005. But he was elected to the Assembly again in November 2007. He is running for re-election in November.
“We charge that Assemblyman Chiappone and his wife conspired to have the state issue more than $8,000 in paychecks for legislative aides, knowing that the money was really destined for the couple’s own pockets or his re-election campaign,” said Attorney General Milgram. “This indictment chronicles a betrayal of the public trust by this elected official.”
Anthony Chiappone said last week that he had been “blindsided” by the reports.
“We met with the Attorney General yesterday and we had a difference of opinion,” he said. “But I felt that we could work this out.”
Chiappone said he had been told that state prosecutors had charged him with official misconduct and violating campaign finance laws, but that he has yet to see the charges.
“I’m in Toms River visiting my father who had open heart surgery,” he said.
Part of the investigation may be related to statements made in a Bayonne Community News story earlier this year, in which Councilman Gary La Pelusa said he had signed over state-issued checks to Chiappone.
“I made it a practice to always talk to the press in good and bad times. I’m not going to forego that in this case,” Chiappone said during a telephone interview Wednesday.
The Attorney General’s office launched an investigation earlier this year and began interviewing Chiappone’s former aides to determine if there was any wrongdoing.
On Wednesday, Chiappone said he would be meeting with his attorney Thomas Howes and may hold a press conference on Thursday.
For previous reporting on the investigation, go to the “search” window on our homepage or see the links below.
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