Ties Between N.J. Lawmakers and Grant Recipients Probed

The U.S. attorney for New Jersey is investigating grants given in recent years to organizations with close ties to two senators and an assemblyman, reports The New York Times.

Federal authorities have issued subpoenas to the three lawmakers: Democratic senators Joseph Coniglio and Nicholas P. Scutari and Democratic assemblyman Brian P. Stack. Spokesmen for the three men confirmed they had received subpoenas and were cooperating with the inquiry, but refused to comment.

Mr. Scutari’s wife works for Community Access Unlimited, a nonprofit group that has received about $75,000 in line-item grants added to legislation. Mr. Stack’s wife runs Union City Day Care, a child-care center that has received about $200,000 in such grants. Mr. Coniglio had a $60,000-a-year consulting contract with Hackensack University Medical Center, which has received $1.6-million in grants.

The U.S. attorney’s investigation is examining whether the lawmakers or their friends or families improperly benefited from these organizations.

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