Corruption Trial- Former Newark Mayor's Secretary Testifies About Insider Access

The Newark Star-Ledger reports:

The longtime personal secretary of former Newark Mayor Sharpe James took the stand in his corruption trial this afternoon, saying James' co-defendant, Tamika Riley, enjoyed extraordinary access to the mayor.

Rose Marie Posella, who worked for James during his entire 20-year career, said Riley showed up on the scene in City Hall in 1999. It eventually became apparent, Posella said, that Riley, a young businesswoman and publicist, was somebody who should get insider access to James.

Posella said she recalled Riley once calling on James' direct line, a number only few people, such as his wife, were supposed to have. After time, when Riley called, the secretary said she would interrupt the mayor in meetings for her calls because Posella knew James would take them.

"It was my impression that he saw her socially. Well, it was, it was uh, common knowledge among the staff members that Tamika and the mayor were very close and very friendly and had a very close social relationship," Posella said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith Germano asked Posella her impression of the relationship.

"My impression was that Tamika Riley was a girlfriend of the mayor. Based on my observations, his interest in her," she said.

Posella was the second witness to testify at James' corruption trial, which finished its second day in federal court in Newark today. Prosecutors will finish questioning Posella Wednesday before defense attorneys cross-examine her.

Prosecutors say James arranged for Riley to buy nine city parcels between 2001 and 2005 because he was having a romantic relationship with her. After paying $46,000 for the properties, she later resold them for about $665,000, authorities said.

The Star-Ledger forgets to tell you what political party Sharpe James belongs to,it's that political party that Larry Craig doesn't belong to.