Tony Mack, the Democrat mayor of Trenton, New Jersey, was taken into custody by FBI agents early this morning at his home on charges of public corruption related to alleged bribery following a two-year federal investigation.
CNN reports that a criminal complaint filed in federal court “accuses the mayor, his brother Ralphiel Mack, and Joseph A. Giorgianni of corruption in connection with a project to build a parking garage on city property.” Mack, 46, has been mayor since July 2010.
The legal complaint alleges, according to CNN, the following:
“The investigation revealed evidence of a conspiracy among these defendants and others to corrupt certain functions of Trenton City government in favor of purported developer seeking to build a parking garage on city-owned property in exchange for cash payments totaling approximately $119,000.”
Back in July, FBI agents executing a search warrant raided Tony Mack’s home and confiscated several boxes of documents. The agents raided Trenton City Hall the next day. At the time, Mayor Mack denied any wrongdoing. The mayor stated:
“We have not violated the public trust, nor have I violated any of my public duties. And that’s all I have to say on the matter.”
According to the AP , the mayor’s “administration of New Jersey’s impoverished capital city has been plagued by accusations of cronyism and reckless spending.” Similarly, CBS News observes that “Mack’s administration has been in turmoil from Day 1, staggering from one crisis to another. A housecleaning of staff at City Hall opened the door for Mack’s own appointees, who quickly turned it into a revolving door.”
