AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano
The corruption arrests that shocked New Jersey and Brooklyn this morning could have an impact on the New Jersey governor's race. There may be no greater evidence of that fact than the hasty press conference convened by Governor Jon Corzine and Attorney General Anne Milgram this afternoon, immediately following the announcement of the indictments by the Acting U.S. Attorney in Newark.
"Any corruption is unacceptable — anywhere, anytime, by anybody,” Corzine said. “The scale of corruption we’re seeing as this unfolds is simply outrageous and cannot be tolerated." Although he is not personally implicated, Corzine may have reason to be nervous.
Most of the officials implicated in the money laundering conspiracy are Democrats, although two are Republicans; and the home of a member of Corzine's administration was raided in connection with the arrests. Those facts could fuel voter distrust of Corzine and Democrats that control New Jersey state government. Corzine already trails by as much as 15 points in the governor's race. The arrests could serve to further weaken his grip on power.
Worse for Corzine politically, however, is that the arrests fit right in to a major campaign theme of Republican Christopher Christie, who as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey began the investigation into the alleged ring two years ago. Christie has been playing up his corruption fighter image on the campaign trail, picking nationally regarded Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno as his running-mate. The events of today will only help Christie make his case that the time has come to sweep the powers that be out of Trenton.
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