Wayne Bryant - The NJ Democrat Culture of Corruption Marches On

Former State Senator and power broker in South Jersey politics Wayne Bryant rested his defense in his corruption trial yesterday(From the Courierpostonline):

In closing arguments, the attorneys attacked the prosecution's case as an overzealous concoction, a blend of "innuendo, spin and interpretation," in the words of Bryant attorney Carl Poplar, emanating from what he called a "nasty investigation."

"They have accused, alleged and asserted," Poplar said of the prosecution team from the office of the U.S. attorney for New Jersey. "But they have not proven that a single crime was committed, much less that Wayne Bryant committed any."

The entire case apparently is about perception according to the defense. But across the river, there is another Democrat politician being prosecuted for corruption for the "perception" that he strong armed donors to maintain his shore house, give him gifts and prop up his lifestyle. For if you accept the "perception" defense, anything goes if you believe that you are "entitled" to receive taxpayer money for doing nothing.

Here are the facts of the case:

1. The Wayne Bryan strong armed the College of Medicine and Dentistry to give him a $35,000 a year job. In essence, he suggested that the Dean of the school Michael Gallagher that we would allowed him to pad his salary in return for the bribe of a job.
2. This would be a job he very rarely showed up for nor did he show any interest in the school when he was there.
3. He used his chairmanship of the Senator Budget committee to funnel in excess of 10 million dollars of taxpayer funds to the school during 2003 through 2006.
4. He engaged in a pension padding scheme to bolster his pension by having others do his legal work while he did nothing.

You can view the full indictment here.

The defense was simple. Everyone does it so it is okay.

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