Sen. Bryant denies
no-show job at UMDNJ
By SARAH GREENBLATT,
Home News Tribune Online, September 20, 2006
State Sen. Wayne Bryant, D-Camden,
said a recent report that accused him of twisting arms to get a no-show job at
the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey was inaccurate.
In a prepared statement issued yesterday, Bryant responded to a federal
monitor's report that said the powerful politician pressured UMDNJ officials to
create a job for him as a program support coordinator.
"The report is not accurate in many respects," Bryant's statement said, without
elaboration.
The monitor's report said Bryant showed up for about three hours weekly on the
Stratford campus, where he primarily read newspapers.
Bryant did not produce any reports or other tangible evidence of his effort in
three years on the job, the report said.
UMDNJ officials failed to post the job publicly, violating university rules and
allowed Bryant to receive full benefits, the report said.
In his statement, Bryant rebutted those claims.
"During the entire time I was employed by UMDNJ, I regularly performed the
various duties and services that were consistent with my job description," the
statement said.
Bryant also disputed a contention in the report that he had refused to answer
investigator's questions.
"The monitor never made any bona fide attempt to interview me," Bryant said.
But John Ingelsino, an attorney with the monitor's office, said multiple
invitations to meet with investigators were made through Bryant's legislative
office and his attorney.
"Among other things, Senator Bryant has a problem with the truth," Ingelsino
said.
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