HUDSON COUNTY — The trial of former Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini continued in U.S. District Court in Newark yesterday, as Beldini’s lawyer questioning government informant Solomon Dwek.
The 74-year-old Beldini is accused of accepting bribes totaling $20,000 which she said were for Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy’s reelection campaign. Healy has not been accused of any crimes. She is also accused of taking real estate commissions from Dwek.
Dwek was pretending to need help with a condo project on Garfield Avenue in Jersey City. He helped snag dozens of local politicians last spring in an FBI sting.
Dwek, clean-shaven and attired in a conservative gray suit with a traditional yarmulke on his head, looked like an overgrown man-child being scolded by the principal as Beldini’s lawyer, Brian Neary, grilled him for a third day on the stand Wednesday.
Neary played for the court some black-and-white hidden camera videos of meetings on March 30, April 1 and April 30 in Jersey City where Beldini met with Dwek, political consultant Jack Shaw and Jersey City employee Edward Cheatam.
Neary would then point out that Dwek would bring up the Garfield Avenue project when Beldini would mention some other subject or would be gracious and cordial to Dwek.
Neary’s legal strategy in defending his client was clear: If my client is bad, you’re a lot worse.
Dwek became agitated when Neary picked on phrases that Dwek would use in conversations at the different meetings such as “good as gold” and “the big cheese” when referring to Healy as he asked Dwek if he was “coached” by the FBI to say them.
Neary was apparently trying to push the idea that only Dwek, Cheatam and Shaw discussed bribes and that Beldini was unaware.
To find out more, watch this spot and read the Jersey City Reporter this weekend.