Embattled Paterson councilman says NJ is seeking to charge him with witness tampering
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PATERSON — Councilman Michael Jackson told Paterson Press that state investigators seized his cellphone two weeks ago as part of an effort to file witness tampering charges against him in the long-delayed election fraud case.
During a phone interview on Monday afternoon, Jackson said the state was looking to create new accusations against him.
“They know they don’t have anything in the voter fraud case, so they’re looking for something else,” the councilman said.
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office filed its election fraud charges against Jackson on June 25, 2020, accusing him of submitting a bogus mail-in ballot in his successful campaign for the city’s 1st Ward council seat that May.
Also charged as part of the attorney general’s election fraud probe were 3rd Ward Paterson Councilman Alex Mendez and two campaign workers for 2nd Ward Councilman Shahin Khalique.
Earlier:Paterson Councilman Michael Jackson says attorney general seized his phone with warrant
Charges remain pending; trial set to start in July
Almost three years later, the charges against all four of them are still pending, and Jackson on Monday said the lack of progress is an indication of the weakness of the state’s case against him.
Jackson first disclosed that the Attorney General’s Office used a warrant to take his phone during public comments he made at the May 23 Paterson City Council meeting. In Monday’s interview, Jackson said he was worried that investigators would try to plant false evidence on his phone.
“I don’t trust them with my data,” the councilman said.
More:Paterson councilman warned colleague: ‘I’m going to knock your teeth out’
The Attorney General’s Office declined to comment on Jackson’s statements. His lawyer in the criminal case could not be reached for comment.
Jackson’s trial is scheduled to start July 24, and Mendez has a pretrial court session scheduled for July 17 in his election fraud case.
Jackson said in Monday’s interview that state investigators were trying to find evidence on his phone that he had contacted one of the witnesses against him in the election fraud case. The councilman said “a third party” — whom he would not identify — told him that the state investigators also seized a cellphone belonging to one of the witnesses against Jackson.
Jackson and Mendez — both political rivals of Mayor Andre Sayegh — have alleged that the election fraud case against them was orchestrated by Sayegh’s allies.
Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press.
Email: editor@patersonpress.com