AG’s Office Won’t Say If O’Donnell-Linked Straw Donations to Fulop Were Prosecuted

Jersey City, NJ – Months after the AG’s Office announced criminal charges against five public officials and political candidates in December 2019 for taking cash bribes from attorney Matt O’Donnell, a separate group of non-political figures were charged for their roles as straw donors to political campaigns on behalf of O’Donnell.

In August 2020, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (NJOAG) charged five people for alleged straw donations on behalf of O’Donnell to political parties and candidates, totaling $239,000. The contributions were apparently part of pay-to-play schemes that resulted in O’Donnell’s law firm receiving contracts with municipal governments.

HudPost exclusively reported that O’Donnell, the state’s cooperating witness in the aforementioned cases, tied Mayor Steven Fulop to a pay-to-play scheme in Jersey City. However, the AG’s Office declined to pursue the case. Court documents obtained by HudPost show that O’Donnell confessed to additional pay-to-play schemes and identified several co-conspirators who were never prosecuted.

In a nutshell, O’Donnell and some of his straw donors were charged for their roles in pay-to-play schemes; however, none of the public officials who received donations and awarded contracts to O’Donnell’s law firm were prosecuted by the AG’s Office.

A review of Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) records reveals at least $27,900 in donations from O’Donnell-linked straw donors were made to Fulop’s 2013 campaign. The AG’s Office did not answer an email from HudPost asking if any donations to Fulop’s 2013 campaign resulted in criminal charges.

During a proffer session with investigators, O’Donnell identified two married couples as straw donors to Fulop’s campaign, but it appears only one couple was ultimately prosecuted by the AG’s Office, according to NJOAG Det. Kristin Maier’s report.

Vanessa and Christopher Brown were both charged for their roles as straw donors. Vanessa is the sister of O’Donnell’s former law partner, Elizabeth Valandingham, who was also charged.

Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) records reveal Vanessa donated $2,600 on February 18, 2011 (Fulop); $2,500 on September 18, 2012 (Team Fulop); and $2,600 on February 26, 2013 (Team Fulop), while Christopher donated $2,500 on September 18, 2012 (Team Fulop).

Publisher’s Note: In regard to donations, “Fulop” refers to Fulop’s mayoral campaign, and “Team Fulop” refers to the Fulop-backed city council candidates.

Despite being identified as straw donors by O’Donnell and reported on by NJ Globe, Jacqueline and Paul DeCamara were not charged by prosecutors. ELEC records reveal Jacqueline donated $2,600 on December 13, 2011 (Fulop) and $2,500 on November 12, 2012 (Team Fulop), while Paul donated $2,600 on December 13, 2011 (Fulop) and $2,500 on September 18, 2012 (Team Fulop).

Erin O’Reilly (aka Erin DeMauro), charged for her role as a straw donor, was not mentioned by O’Donnell in relation to Fulop and Jersey City. Nevertheless, Erin “O’Reilly” donated $2,500 to Fulop on March 21, 2011, and Erin “DeMauro” donated $2,600 to Fulop on December 13, 2011.

Notably, ELEC records reveal an individual named “Jon Paul DeMauro” at times used the same address as Erin DeMauro, including for one co-donation. Jon Paul was apparently never charged but also donated $2,500 to Fulop on March 21, 2011.

Suzanne Gayet was charged by the AG’s Office for her role as a straw donor for O’Donnell. Gayet donated $2,500 to Team Fulop on September 13, 2012.

In addition to not answering whether contributions to Fulop’s campaign resulted in criminal charges, the NJOAG declined to provide a complete list of individuals charged as straw donors in the O’Donnell case.