NJ man accused of corruption won't resign

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - August 6, 2009 L. Harvey Smith, a Jersey City Democrat, says he's entitled to the presumption of innocence and won't bow to pressure from the governor, the Assembly speaker and others to step down.

Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. called Smith's decision disappointing. Roberts has already stripped the Democrat of his legislative salary and benefits.

Smith was arrested on July 23 and is accused of taking $15,000 in bribes from a federal informant to help win building approvals from state officials.

One assemblyman and two mayors arrested in the sweep have resigned, but another mayor and a city council president have not.

Money Laundering Complaints

BEN HAIM
SCHMULIK COHEN
LEVI DEUTSCH and BINYOMIN SPIRA
YESHAYAHU EHRENTAL
MORDCHAI FISH, LAVEL SCHWARTZ, and YOLIE GERTNER
MORDCHAI FISH, LAVEL SCHWARTZ, ABRAHAM POLLACK and NAFTOLY WEBER
SAUL KASSIN
EDMOND NAHUM
LEVY IZHAK ROSENBAUM

Public Corruption Complaints

MOSHE ALTMAN
CHARLES AMON
JACK M. SHAW, EDWARD CHEATAM, and LEONA BELDINI
PETER CAMMARANO III and MICHAEL SCHAFFER
JOSEPH CARDWELL
GUY CATRILLO
ITZAK FRIEDLANDER
JOHN GUARINI
SHIMON HABER
MICHAEL J. MANZO, DENIS JASLOW, and JOSEPH CASTAGNA
MAHER A. KHALIL
JAMES P. "JIMMY" KING
LOUIS MANZO and RONALD MANZO
L. HARVEY SMITH and RICHARD GREENE
ANTHONY R. SUAREZ and VINCENT TABBACHINO
DANIEL M. VAN PELT
MARIANO VEGA
LAVERN WEBB-WASHINGTON
ARYE WEISS
JEFFREY WILLIAMSON

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