Add an aging burlesque queen to the sleazy cast of characters involved in the New Jersey Bribery Scandal. Jersey City Deputy Mayor, Leona Beldini is the first person to face a jury trial in the widespread corruption sting operation.
From NJ.com,
Decades removed from her burlesque past, Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini is scheduled to go on trial Monday, the first defendant from last summer’s sweeping federal sting operation to face a jury.
Beldini, 74, was one of more than 40 people charged in the sting, including dozens of political officials, five rabbis and three mayors. Eleven of the accused have already pleaded guilty.
Beldini is accused of taking $20,000 in illicit contributions when she was campaign treasurer for Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy. Her trial is expected to offer the first public telling of the sting by the government informant who carried it out.
How do these people keep getting elected in New Jersey?
