[AsburyPark] Disgraced Kushner - Asbury Park Press 03/4/05-6 Fri -Sat

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Published in the Asbury Park Press 03/4/05, Early Friday Court suspends Kushner's New York law license   THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ALBANY, N.Y. -- A midlevel state appeals court Thursday suspended the New York law license of a major New Jersey Democratic Party contributor who pleaded guilty last year to witness tampering and tax charges. Charles B. Kushner will be prohibited from practicing law in New York under the decision by the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court. The motion to suspend Kushner's license was made by the state's Committee on Professional Standards. Kushner is to be sentenced Friday in federal court in New Jersey for using a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law who was a witness in a federal probe that focused on Kushner's donations and business. Kushner pleaded guilty in August to the witness tampering charge. In doing so, he also admitted sending a tape of the seduction to the man's wife â Kushner's sister. Kushner pleaded guilty as well to campaign finance violations and 16 counts of filing false tax returns for various partnerships affiliated with his company, avoiding up to $325,000 in taxes. Since 1997, Kushner gave more than $1 million to Democrats and was the top donor to former New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey's successful gubernatorial campaign. The married McGreevey, whose administration was mired in its own scandals, resigned in November after admitting to a homosexual affair. Kushner, 50, has been free on $5 million bail pending sentencing. He faces between 18 and 33 months in prison.   Published in the Asbury Park Press 03/4/05, late Friday or tomorrow's news Disgraced donor, Kushner,                                           sentenced to 2 years for seduction, campaign schemes NEWARK (AP) -- Charles B. Kushner, a powerful real estate developer and major benefactor to Democrats, was sentenced Friday to two years in federal prison for campaign finance violations and retaliating against a witness . . . his sister . . . by having her husband seduced by a prostitute. Kushner, who got the maximum term, was also fined $40,000 by U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares. Linares said Kushner's generosity in giving money to charity and individuals was difficult to reconcile with his "vengeful and hateful'' acts. Kushner addressed the judge for eight minutes, calling his own behavior "disgraceful and reprehensible.'' In a letter to Linares in November, Kushner begged forgiveness and blamed a "bitter dispute'' with his siblings. He also wrote "there is simply no moral defense for my behavior.'' Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Resnik argued Friday that Kushner should get the maximum. "These were crimes of greed, power and arrogance,'' he said. Defense attorney Benjamin Brafman countered that Kushner's "extraordinary'' philanthropy merited the lowest possible sentence of 18 months. Kushner, 50, of Livingston, remains free on $5 million bail. He must report to prison by May 9. Kushner pleaded guilty Aug. 18, admitting that he sent a videotape of the sexual encounter to his sister in retaliation because she was cooperating in a federal investigation of his business activities. Kushner also pleaded guilty to 16 counts of filing false tax returns for various partnerships affiliated with his company, avoiding up to $325,000 in taxes. The partnerships falsely claimed more than $1 million in charitable contributions as office expenses for tax years 1998 to 2000. Partnerships can deduct office expenses from profits, but not charity. He also pleaded guilty to making made false statements to the Federal Election Commission through filings that claimed campaign contributions were made by people who did not know contributions were being made in their names. Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]   Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.