Assemblyman Indicted

New Jersey State Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone, D-Bayonne, was charged last week with campaign finance fraud, including conspiracy and tampering with public records.

The indictment alleges that Chiappone and his wife, who was also charged, directed $8,000 of state paychecks for a legislative aide and a supposed aide into his and his wife’s personal bank accounts.

New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram announced the indictment.

In 2005, Chiappone apparently took 13 state paychecks totaling $7,532 issued for one of his aides and placed them into the couple’s bank account or the assemblyman’s campaign fund. The aide, who is not charged, believed all of the checks were to be used as donations to Chiappone’s 2005 campaign.

Gov. Jon Corzine and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts have asked Chiappone to resign.

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