Gerald Krovatin

NEWARK -Former Newark Mayor Sharpe James Lawyers for former Newark Mayor Sharpe James and Tamika Riley fought back in federal court today against depictions of their clients as intertwining strands of corruption in a fraud case the feds say James and Riley perpetrated against the people of Newark's struggling South Ward. 

Arguing on behalf of James, 72, defense attorney Tom Ashley said it was a Newark City Council top-heavy with James detractors, including the mayor's arch-nemesis Cory Booker, that repeatedly affirmed the sale of city properties to Riley.

"He's charged with unduly influencing the (Department of Economic Housing Development) on behalf of his girlfriend," Ashley told 19 jurors in the federal courtroom of District Judge William Martini on Monday afternoon. "There is no evidence, and we will fight it to the last day."

Former State Sen. Joe Coniglio will surrender to the FBI to face corruption charges at the Federal Courthouse in Newark later today, according to Coniglio spokesman Keith Furlong.

It is not yet known exactly what time Coniglio will turn himself in.

After his court apperance, Coniglio’s defense attorney, Gerald Krovatin, plans to issue a statement.

Harold Hodes, a lobbyist for the Hackensack University Medical Center, has retained legal counsel for the probe of State Sen. Joe ConiglioLobbyist Harold Hodes, a top advisor to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in New Jersey and one of the state’s most powerful political insiders, has retained a prominent criminal defense attorney as part of the federal corruption probe of State Sen. Joseph Coniglio, according to several sources.

Public Strategies/Impact, Hodes’ firm, has represented Hackensack University Medical Center, which employed Coniglio as a plumbing consultant. The hospital received over $1 million in state grants while the Bergen County Democrat was on their payroll.

Hodes has not received a target letter from the U.S. Attorney’s office, according to people with knowledge of the Coniglio investigation, but is being represented by Justin Walder.  Walder’s partner, Joseph Hayden, said his firm does not comment on who their clients are.  Hodes did not return repeated phone calls to his office, home and cell phone over the last several weeks seeking comment.