HUDSON COUNTY —In a shock that rocked the Newark Court House, developer Solomon Dwek testified in federal court Monday, during the corruption trial of suspended Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, that he had given $40,000 last year to a third party intended for former Bayonne Mayor Joseph Doria, who was then serving as commissioner of the state Department of Community Affairs.
Dwek, who was then acting as an operative for the federal authorities, said the bribe was an attempt to get Doria to clear environmental obstacles so that Dwek’s purported project on Garfield Avenue in Jersey City could move ahead.
Dwek said he gave the money to political consultant Jack Shaw, but was unaware if the money ever reached Doria.
Sources in Bayonne City Hall who were close to Doria said that Shaw – prior to his death last summer – allegedly took, but did not pass on, a $20,000 bribe.
“That’s probably the reason federal authorities raided Joe’s [Doria’s] house,” one source said. “They were probably looking for the marked bills. But they didn’t find any.”
Although asked to resign last year as state DCA commissioner, Doria has not been charged with any crime, and those close to him dispute claims that Shaw acted as a go-between.
“Joe is a lot of things, but he’s not dishonest,” one Bayonne official said.
Several sources, however, said Dwek met with Bayonne political people several times prior to the arrests of 44 people last July.
“Dwek even attended a local political fundraiser at the Bayonne Golf Club last year,” one source said. “No one knew he was working with the FBI at the time.”