CNN reports that Craig Calloway, left, took $36,000 in bribes for himself but refuted saying it was really "for the people":
"I am very zealous, very passionate when it comes to representing the people who have been left out of the process. I didn't conform to the law," Callaway told the judge. "I tried to make my own rules to make things better for the people who have been left out."
Making things "better" apparently included blackmailing his opponents, throwing bricks at windows, and bringing bullhorns to the meetings of competitors so he could drown them out.
The story states "Callaway did not explain how pocketing $36,000 in bribes helped the people he represented. His lawyer, Jeremy Frey, told the judge that at least Callaway did not bother to try to disguise the bribes as campaign contributions, and asked for some credit for his client not being disingenuous."
Sooo...basically this guy is going to jail because he was 'stupider' than the average candidate.
After he entered the courthouse, what was his plea like?
"Well you see judge, I am a true and honest criminal. I am straightfoward when I take bribes. I don't go 'round makin' it look like I'm an upstanding politician. I will fly in the face of all reasoning and steal from the New Jersey public just as straight faced and fuck-you-like as I possibly can. Can you please take it easy on me for that? I'm genuinely a man who takes bribes. I aint' pretendin' to be nothing else. At least you gotta give me that."
"So are you saying that you intentionally did not hide these contributions because you wanted everyone to know that you took them like other politicians take them, just discretely?"
"Yes sir."
"Is this the same reason you threw a brick through an opposing candidates windshield?"
"Yes sir-- I wanted him to know who he was messin' with."
"And you did all of this why?"
"I want to help the people."
"Soooo...you going to help them in jail?"
"Absolutely. Do you know how many conduits for bribery you can have once you in jail? Absolutely. I will continue my zealous fight for the people."
"Even if it's against the law?"
"Absolutely."
"Even if it results in further jail time?"
"Absolutely."
"Even if people think you're bloody fucking crazy?"
"Why do you think I flipped them all off before I came in the courtroom? Hell YEAH."