The Sting: Was Steele the Judas Goat?

Assemblyman Alfred Steele
is set to resign today.

I am hearing the hallways at the Dems State Conference in A.C. this weekend were filled with conversation speculating about how US Attorney Chris Christie was able to put together the massive sting he executed last week -- snagging some high-profile Dem pols in the process.

The Ledger ran an interesting story in Sunday's edition (more here), which went over some of the ground, but left me still wondering about how all the connections were made.

I know New Jersey is a small state, and you can get some sense of how small by watching the backslapping and guzzling at the annual League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City (and particularly the after-hours receptions -- legendary for boozing and schmoozing).

Still, I found it difficult to think that the bigshot North Jersey players had much of a connection with the Pleasantville school board folks. At least, THAT kind of connection.

But gossip has it that Assemblyman Alfred Steele might be the Judas Goat who led the North Jersey pols to the slaughter.

We won't really know until the tapes are completely public knowledge.

But if his response is any indicator -- fleeing from reporters into busy Trenton street traffic, and withdrawing to the sanctuary of his congregation -- there may be something to this rumor.

Meanwhile, the Sunday Ledger item had two other interesting side bits --

1. Under pressure from an honest board member, the Pleasantville school board hired the powerhouse (and Dem-connected) DeCotiis FitzPatrick law firm to investigate. The report was troubling enough -- coupled with investigative coverage by the Press of Atlantic City -- that the school board told the law firm to forward its conclusions to state law enforcement authorities for possible action.
   
   The lead lawyer, George Frino, is quoted as saying, "We never got any reply."
   
   
2. Secondly, the story notes that Keith Reid, then chief of staff to Newark's City Council president Mildred Crump told the cooperating witnesses that he had a consulting firm that could win them contracts in, among other places, Elizabeth. Imagine that!
   
   Unfortunately for us, the busts were made BEFORE the feds got down to the next level.
   
   A case of what I would call 'premature withdrawal' on Christie's part.
   
   

---

Background --

Ledger --

• Sunday: "How Jersey's remarkable sting occurred"
• Monday: "Rev. Steele lauds 'oasis' of his loyal congregation"

Herald News --

• Sunday: "Steele, Hackett set to leave Monday"
• Monday: "Steele seeks out solace in church"

-- Dan Damon

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