Lobbyist Harold Hodes, a top advisor to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in New Jersey and one of the state’s most powerful political insiders, has spent several hours testifying before a federal grand jury probing State Sen. Joseph Coniglio, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Hodes, appearing in response to a federal subpoena, testified about appropriations Coniglio allegedly obtained for Hackensack University Medical Center while the two-term Senator was working as a paid consultant. At the time, Hodes’ firm, Public Strategies/Impact, was the HUMC lobbyist. The hospital received over $1 million in state grants while Coniglio was on their payroll. Coniglio is the target of a federal criminal probe.
Hodes did not return calls seeking comment.
Hodes, 65, served as Executive Assistant to Newark Mayor Kenneth Gibson before becoming Chief of Staff to Governor Brendan Byrne. He was the first President of the New Jersey Devils before starting his lobbying firm in the 1980’s.
