Former Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero’s defense attorney filed a motion in federal court today to dismiss the indictment against him.
Joseph Hayden, who represents Ferriero, said that they’re seeking to dismiss the case based on an “unprecedented expansion of the mail fraud statute.”
Ferriero was indicted in September along with Dennis Oury, the former counsel of the Bergen County Democratic Organization, on eight corruption counts, seven of which were for mail fraud. He allegedly used his position to steer business to a grants writing firm he and Oury held a stake in, along with Leonard Kaiser, a third partner who was not indicted.
No hearing date has been set.
Ferriero, who ruled the party for ten years, transformed the Bergen County Democratic Organization from a minority party to a fundraising behemoth that by the time of his indictment controlled all but one county-wide office. He was one of the state's most powerful political insiders until his downfall– so much so that Hillary Clinton agreed to come to Hackensack in order to secure his endorsement during the Democratic presidential primary.
