Taxpayers Pay Gov`s Legal Bills

New Jersey taxpayers have shelled out more than $74,000 to a lawyer who represented Gov. James McGreevey during a federal probe of a fund-raiser.

David D'Amiano admitted on Wednesday that he solicited and accepted $40,000 in cash and political contributions in return for assisting a Middlesex County farmland preservation deal.

McGreevey said he was named in the indictment as "state official one."

In court, D'Amiano said he prompted that official to use a code word when he met with the land owner. The governor has insisted he did nothing wrong.

The legal bills released Friday cover only the farmland investigation.

It's not known how much the same lawyer charged for negotiating on McGreevey's behalf when a former aide threatened to file a sexual harassment lawsuit.

Author: NBC10/AP