NJ Governor McGreevey resigns

[GardenStateGirlie]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

My understanding is that he only held that position for a few months. He hasn't worked for the state for what, a year and a half, two years now? A retainer for a case of this type would be substantial, IMO. But we've got some attorneys around her. Maybe they will address that. As I said, maybe the attorney took Cipel's case is doing so on contingency, though I doubt it.

N.J. Homeland Security Adviser Resigns
Associated Press Thursday, March 7, 2002

By JOHN P. McALPIN

TRENTON, N.J.—New Jersey's homeland security adviser has quit amid a furor over his lack of law enforcement experience and because his Israeli nationality prohibits him from obtaining a security clearance, Gov. James McGreevey said Thursday.

Golan Cipel, 33, will be kept on the governor's staff and retain his $110,000 salary, with duties assigned on an "as-needed" basis, McGreevey said.

Cipel previously held jobs in television news and public relations. He has also worked for the state Democratic committee and for a major donor to McGreevey and other state Democrats.

On Wednesday, Republican lawmakers threatened to block all of McGreevey's remaining appointments unless Cipel testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about his background.

The governor said Cipel first asked to quit more than two weeks ago "due to his Israeli citizenship status." Security clearances are normally required for all Cabinet members and major nominations.

Cipel does not head the state's homeland security panel. That job belongs to Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Flicker.

A former Israeli sailor and a published poet, Cipel had worked as a spokesman for the Israeli Consulate in New York. Last year he took a job with the state Democratic Committee. During the gubernatorial campaign, he was McGreevey's liaison to the Jewish community and an informal adviser on security matters.

Cipel has also worked for real estate developer Charles Kushner, a major supporter of New Jersey Democrats. That job was left off the biography of Cipel distributed by McGreevey's office.

The governor's staff has barred Cipel from interviews or public comment about his background or the state job.

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Depending upon what he did prior to working for McGreevey, he may have already had money. Who knows? At any rate, like we've been saying, more will be revealed in the weeks and months to come. Things have always been slighty off when it comes Cipel and his reasons for resigning/why he was appointed to begin with. You have to wonder, at $110,000 per year, living in America and having a rather comfortable life at age 33, why someone would choose to resign to begin with. The next chapter in this ongoing saga soon...