Ever since Hoboken politico Frank Raia and others were indicted for "conspiracy to use the mails to engage in a voter bribery scheme" in a 2013 campaign, folks have been wondering if more shoes will drop.
No one can know what the Department of Justice will do. Will they try to build another case, or just wrap this one up with a bow and put it under Trump's Christmas tree?
In any event, Raia was always present- one way or another- in Hoboken politics. He gave to favored candidates and committees generously. And that is perfectly legal.
So, whom did Frank Raia support for mayor in last year's election?
Michael DeFusco! And his Team!
Frank made contributions to both DeFusco for Hoboken Mayor and Team DeFusco from himself individually (Frank Raia) and from his corporation (600 Monroe Street Corp.) Yes, that's allowed.
Frank made contributions to both DeFusco for Hoboken Mayor and Team DeFusco from himself individually (Frank Raia) and from his corporation (600 Monroe Street Corp.) Yes, that's allowed.
600 MONROE STREET CORPORATION
So... how generous was Frank to Mike DeFusco's mayoral campaign?
Very.
Raia/600 Monroe Street Corp reported $9,900 in total contributions to a campaign whose total reported receipts were $180,350. That is, 5.5% of the DeFusco campaign's total reported receipts came from Frank Raia. Wow.
TOTAL REPORTED CAMPAIGN RECEIPTS
This is the breakdown:
"600 Monroe Street Corp" gave:
- Team DeFusco for Hoboken, 20-Day Post Election, received Dec 19 2017, contribution received 11/07/2017 $3,400 (aggregate $3,400)
- Mike DeFusco for Hoboken City Council (2019) April 15 2017, received April 17, 2017, contribution received 3/15/2017, $600 (aggregate $600)
"Frank Raia" gave:
- Mike DeFusco for Hoboken Mayor, July 15 2017, received July 17, 2017, no date, $2,000 (aggregate $2,000)
- Team DeFusco for Hoboken 20-Day Post Elec , received Dec 19 2017, $3,400 received on 10/31/2017 (aggregate $3,900)
GA wants to make it clear that there is nothing illegal nor nefarious about making political contributions to a favored political candidate or committee (except when contributions are in excess of pay-to-play limits). Legal donations are not "conspiracy to use the mails to engage in a voter bribery scheme" and don't you forget it!
The big kid who many thought played an important role in Pupie's VBM operations over the years (going back to Chris Campos in 2007) worked for Romano in 2017 with Pupie supporting DeFusco. Romano got the lion's share of the VBM's, which is why DeFusco lost.
ReplyDeleteDid Pupie double cross DeFusco (costing Mike the election)?
Or did the big kid steal Pupie's operation out from under him.
My guess is it's the former, but who knows.
Either way, it's surprising the big kid's name hasn't come up given his very public role in VBM operations over the years, and I haven't seen him around town for a long time.
I can't imagine the feds haven't talked to him, and I imagine he would have a lot to share if he had reason to cooperate.
numbers, Stick Romano just called me to correct you: Romano said, "the big kid never worked for me in 2017, he just hung out in my office."
DeleteNice job. I forgot that a blog can perform analysis and connect dots instead of connecting dots and avoiding all dissuasive analysis.
ReplyDelete