Assemblyman Guy Gregg

GREGG: EVEN IF NOT CRIMINAL, FARBER'S VIOLATION OF ETHICS CODE JUSTIFIES HER REMOVAL

SAYS THAT THE STATE'S TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MUST BE HELD TO HIGHEST STANDARDAugust 15, 2006
Assemblyman Guy Gregg/973-584-5422
Assembly Republican Office/609-292-5339

GREGG: EVEN IF NOT CRIMINAL, FARBER'S VIOLATION OF ETHICS CODE JUSTIFIES HER REMOVAL

SAYS THAT THE STATE'S TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MUST BE HELD TO HIGHEST STANDARD

Assemblyman Guy Gregg today called for the removal of New Jersey Attorney General Zulima Farber from her post after a special prosecutor's report concluded that while there was no criminal act, Farber violated the state's code of ethics when she showed up at the scene of her boyfriend's traffic stop in May.

"I think it is fair to say Attorney General Farber has worn out her welcome," said Gregg, R-Sussex, Morris and Hunterdon. "We cannot allow someone who has demonstrated such a blatant disregard for our ethical standards to continue as our state’s top law enforcement officer."

Retired Appellate Judge Richard J. Williams today issued his report on the investigation he conducted into whether any criminal or ethical wrongdoing occurred during a traffic stop of Farber’s live-in boyfriend Hamlet Goore during which Farber arrived on the scene with her State Police driver.

The officer wrote two tickets for Goore, one for driving with a suspended license and one for driving an uninsured vehicle, before a New Jersey State Police vehicle arrived with Farber and the tickets were subsequently voided.
While Williams concluded in his report that Farber did not commit a crime, she did violate the state code of ethics and Williams states that "her conduct does raise significant ethical questions that must be addressed."

"If Zulima Farber is unwilling to do the right thing and resign her post, the Governor should seek to remove her for cause," Gregg said. "If that does not happen the Legislature should begin to consider impeachment proceedings. The bottom line is we cannot have an Attorney General whom the public cannot trust to carry out her duties in an ethical manner or fairly enforce all the laws of our state."

#####