Verniero`s Letters Made Public

State senators now say they have another reason Supreme Court Justice Peter G. Verniero should be impeached, claiming he knew of a report detailing complaints from minority troopers.

Verniero told the Senate Judiciary Committee before his 1999 confirmation hearing that he never saw the report or knew any of its details.

On Tuesday, committee members released more documents related to racial profiling, including 1999 letters from Verniero and former Gov. Christie Whitman.

In those letters, Verniero denied a newspaper report that he was aware of a state police report that investigated allegations of abuse of black troopers. Those allegations were part of a lawsuit filed by 13 black troopers.

Senators now argue that testimony during recent hearings on racial profiling shows Verniero knew of that state police report compiled by Sgt. J.E. Smith.

Verniero`s former executive assistant testified that he included Smith`s report as part of a July 1997 memo to the attorney general.

"Accordingly, the Senate Judiciary Committee respectfully requests that the General Assembly incorporate this information in its consideration of appropriate articles of impeachment," Sen. Raymond J. Zane, R-Gloucester, wrote.

On Tuesday, committee members received copies of those 1999 letters as well as other documents from the attorney general. Last Wednesday, witnesses testified about the Smith report during the Senate committee`s racial profiling hearings. Late Thursday, the attorney general forwarded the materials, but committee members did not see them until Tuesday because they were off for the Easter holidays.

Last week the committee filed five other reasons for impeachment with Assembly Speaker Jack Collins, R-Salem.

Those charges include allegations that Verniero withheld information about state police activity from the U.S. Justice Department as well as public defenders who argued that troopers were biased.

On Monday, Verniero again denied the charges and gave a point-by-point response to the senator`s allegations.

Verniero Lawyer Robert Mintz said Tuesday the latest accusation is also unfounded.

"We`ve already demonstrated that there`s nothing there," Mintz said.

Impeachment would begin in the Assembly before moving to the Senate for a trial. Assemblyman William Payne, D-Essex, has drafted an impeachment resolution.

Assembly Speaker Jack Collins, R-Salem, has these latest documents, as well as the 44-page response from Verniero, a spokesman said Tuesday. Collins has made no public announcement on impeachment proceedings.

"He`s still reviewing all the materials that have been sent over to us," spokesman Chuck Leitgeb said.

Verniero was the first attorney general to admit to racial profiling in a 1999 report, one year after two white troopers fired 11 shots at four unarmed minority men _ wounding three _ during a traffic stop on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Acting Gov. Donald T. DiFrancesco leads the senators, including all 11 committee members, who said Verniero should resign. The Black and Latino Legislative Caucus and a coalition of religious and civil rights groups have also called for him to step down.

State law would allow Verniero to be impeached for his actions as attorney general up to two years after he left office. That would mean the Assembly would have to act by the end of May.

Some contend his testimony before the Senate committee in 1999 could be seen as part of his judicial conduct, giving lawmakers more time for impeachment proceedings.

Verniero has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has said he will not resign.

Both the 1999 report and indictments against those troopers for falsifying records were released just after Verniero was nominated to the state Supreme Court by former Gov. Christie Whitman, now head of the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News (AP)