Report: Former Newark Mayor Billed Adult Movies to City
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
NEWARK — An indicted former mayor, Sharpe James, billed the city for adult movies and body lotions while on a business trip, prosecutors allege in documents filed in federal court.
The allegations were detailed in a November 17 letter sent to Mr. James’s defense attorneys but not put into the public record, pursuant to a judge’s order, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported in Friday’s editions.
Records allegedly show Mr. James, 71, stayed in a hotel room in Miami that was charged $21.95 for a movie block that gave guests 24-hour access to adult movie titles.
An attorney representing Mr. James, Alan Zegas, accused the government of using innuendo against his client.
“What the heck does it matter if he watched an adult movie or ‘Citizen Kane’?” Mr. Zegas told the newspaper. “It just creates this salacious environment and serves no other purpose than to contaminate an already contaminated atmosphere.”
The letter also detailed other evidence the government may use against the former mayor that was not included in a 25-count indictment unsealed in July.
Mr. James is accused of using city-issued credit cards to pay for $58,000 worth of personal trips and expenses while he was mayor and for engineering the sale of nine city-owned properties at a discount rate to companion Tamika Riley.
