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GannettUSA Today

Friday, September 15, 2006

Lynch, et al

I'm glad to hear that another politician is facing the music for dancing to an unethical tune. This time it's the powerful Democratic party leader John Lynch Jr., the former state Senate president from New Brunswick, who pleaded guilty to corruption and tax evasion charges today.

I find no joy in hearing of one of our top state leaders facing jail time for being corrupt. But I know there's rampant corruption out there, and when one takes a fall from the top shelf, maybe those working their way up will think again when tempted to follow suit. Maybe.

Sometimes it's so discouraging. The audacity of people who -- thumping their chests and spouting that they have a calling to public service -- go on to stick it to the people they promised to help by using their offices to enrich themselves, their families and their pals. That's why hearing of another one in the crosshairs of the justice system makes me happy. Root them out. Put them in jail, if warranted. Snatch away their pensions. They don't deserve any more state money.

What remains discouraging is how slow justice can be. I think only one of the guys snagged in early 2005 under Operation Bid Rig in Monmouth County has been sentenced -- some haven't had their day in court yet. It seems some can delay and greatly reduce their sentences by ratting out others. Which goes to show what their true intentions as "public servants" really were.

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The US Attorney should be ashamed of himself for agreeing to such a generous plea argreement for Lynch. At best, Lynch will spend 3 years at Fort Dix playing hoops with Bob Brennan and the brothers. That punishment pales in comparison to the damage Lynch did.

9/19/2006 01:30:00 PM  

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