The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has upheld the conviction of former Bergen County Democratic Committee chairman Joseph Ferriero, who was sentenced to 35 months in jail on bribery and racketeering charges.
The appeals court rejected Ferriero’s claims that his First Amendment rights precluded the charges against him under New Jersey’s bribery law. The panel said the bribery law does not punish legitimate First Amendment activity, but punishes corrupt agreements to accept payment in exchange for official favors.
