The Trenton Times is reporting that federal authorities raided the homes of Trenton, N.J. mayor Tony Mack, his brother and a convicted child molester who donated thousands of dollars to Mack's campaign.
"We have not violated the public trust in any way," Mack told reporters before leaving his home at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
An FBI spokesperson said agents also visited Mack's brother Ralphiel Mack, who coaches football at a local high school, and Joseph "Jojo" Giorgianni, who was convicted for sexually assaulting an underage girl in 1992. According to The Times, financial records indicate that Giorgiannni donated $4,600 to Mack's 2010 mayoral campaign, $2,000 more than individual contribution limits. Giorgianni refused to speak to reporters Wednesday morning. Mack could not be reached for comment.
According to WNBC-TV, Mack's administration has been plagued by turmoil in the short time since his election: his former housing director resigned after it was discovered he had been convicted of theft; his ex-chief of staff was arrested for trying to buy heroin and one of his business administrators resigned before pleading guilty to embezzlement charges. An agreement between Mack and the state Department of Community Affairs last year stipulates that he can only hire department heads from a state-approved list of applicants or the city will forfeit millions of in state aid.
Watch video of Tony Mack leaving his home this morning, posted by The Trenton Times on July 17, below:
