N.J. pushes for convicted Trenton mayor to be removed

New Jersey officials have filed legal paperwork to remove the mayor of the state’s capital city from office after he was convicted of corruption.

The state Attorney General’s Office filed a request Monday afternoon with a state Superior Court judge, asking that Tony Mack be kicked out of office, stripped of his pension and be barred from holding elected office again.

Mack was convicted Friday on bribery, fraud and extortion charges.

A hearing is expected before Mack would be removed, but one has not been scheduled.

Meanwhile, a New Jersey lawmaker plans to reintroduce a proposed constitutional amendment that would require the temporary unpaid suspension of elected officials under indictment.

State Sen. Shirley Turner said Mack’s conviction on federal corruption charges nearly 18 months after his indictment shows the need for the measure she intends to introduce next week.

“During all that time, the city of Trenton has just been held hostage as well as the residents,” she said Monday. “And we saw where the governor indicated he wasn’t going to do anything to help the city as long as they had an indicted [suspect] as a mayor.”

Officials who would be suspended after their indictment would get retroactive pay if they’re found not guilty. If convicted, they’ would be forced to give up elected office.

Turner introduced the bill in the previous legislative session, but it never got out of committee.

Papers filed late this afternoon in the matter of State of New Jersey v. Tony F. Mack are available below.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

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Mack Forfeiture Papers (PDF) Mack Forfeiture Papers (Text)