Former 'Mayor For Life' Sharpe James: Maybe 20 years?

According to a report on NJ.com, former Essex County Senator and Newark Mayor Sharpe James could get 20 years in a federal prison if U.S. Attorney Chris Christie gets his way.

James was criticized for his extravagances several years ago by former Monmouth County Assemblyman Steve Corodemus, who remarked about the former "mayor for life's" penchant for driving his Rolls Royce to Trenton during legislative sessions. But no one could have imagined the extent of the former Newark mayor's corruption problems until a federal verdict recently.

Whether or not James is going to spend the next two decades behind bars will be up to fate, and the Hon. William Martini, who has been so present during the recent "Operation Bid Rig" trials. For more information, go to NJ.com by clicking on the headline and see the story.

Pt. 2: Chris Christie talks about James case, media coverage

At the Crystal Beacon Awards Dinner on Thursday, May 15, U.S. Attorney Chris Christie briefly discussed the recent Sharpe James corruption trial, and some of the media's handling of the case in print.

Former 'mayor for life' is convicted; may be facing another trial

Former N.J. Sen. and Newark Mayor Sharpe James has been convicted for fraud. He is facing the distinct possibility of another trial for more problems.

At one time, "Mayor for Life" Sharpe James, as he was sometimes referred to, was considered the most-entrenched, most-unassailable power in the Garrden State. Today, he is another person wondering about what his future looks like in a Federal courtroom.

Corruption is an old song in New Jersey, and the tune is familiar to state residents. Sharpe James isn't the end of it. In my opinion, he's not even the end of the very beginning.

Click on the headline to go to the NJ.com story about it.

Jury heads to deliberation in James corruption case

Former Newark Mayor Sharpe James had his day(s) in court, and now the jury gets to decide the next chapter in his life. Here's what the jury doesn't have to decide upon: New Jersey is the single-most corrupt state in the union. Our elected officials are largely up for sale in Trenton and most of them are not worth a darn. There are exceptions, and those legislators could probably all meet in a small room somewhere if they wanted. I'm not going to pass a judgment that a jury is figuring out in the James case. I will say that I always considered Mayor James to be the standard-bearer for everything that is wrong with elected officials in the state of New Jersey. In the Garden State, holding office is mostly about elected officials, of both parties, making a buck for themselves and tryinig to look dignified to the folks back home while they do it.

Regardless of how the James case turns out, that will still be the way it is the day after the case, the week after the case and, the way things are going, a year or three years after the case. Years ago I interviewed former Assemblyman Steve Corodemus, R-Monmouth, who was one of the finest members of the Legislature this state was ever fortunate enough to have serve. He was very critical of Sen. and Mayor James. Mr. Corodemus believed there were conflicts because of James' role in the state and the city, and he was right, in my opinion.

As a matter of fact, former Assemblyman Corodemus was right about a lot of things, from small business to the environment to taxation. Too bad it is hard to keep the good ones and retain...well...the rest. Click on the headline to go to the latest and greatest by NJ.com about the Sharpe James saga.

Sharpe James on trial...thankfully

Former Newark Mayor Sharpe James is on trial. I'm glad there is a public review of the allegations being made against him. If there is a bad guy in office, Democrat, Republican or from whatever party, it is in the best interests of the public to see that blind justice (not partisan justice) is given out.

Click on the headline to go to the story on NJ.com.