No verdict in Hamilton case; deliberations continue tomorrow
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 11/20/07
BY CHARLES WEBSTER IV
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NEWARK A federal jury tomorrow will continue to deliberate the federal
charges of
bribery against former Asbury Park City Councilman John J. Hamilton Jr..
The case went to the U.S. District Court jury around 10 a.m. today, and the
jury adjourned
for the day shortly before 5 p.m. without reaching a verdict. Deliberations
will begin again
tomorrow.
Hamilton has been charged with offering public, no-bid contracts to a
demolition
contractor - a role played by FBI informant Robert "Duke'' Steffer - in return
for having his
driveway paved. Steffer was working for the FBI as an undercover informant, and
his
conversations with Hamilton were recorded.
Steffer played a pivotal role in the investigation, culminating in the arrests
in 2005 of more
than a dozen public officials and vendors in the Monmouth County political
corruption
probe dubbed "Operation Bid Rig.''
Authorities had Steffer pose as a corrupt contractor and loan shark in dealings
with public
officials in Monmouth County and several towns between 2001 and 2004.
Hamilton is accused of accepting a bribe and bartering to the driveway of his
home paved
in 2001; in exchange, authorities say, Hamilton was to steer municipal
contracts to
Steffer's fictitious company.
Hamilton has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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