Jon S. Corzine
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Corzine Jon S. Corzine Mr. Corzine
The New Jersey Republican Party on Thursday accused Gov. Jon S. Corzine of violating his own ethics guidelines when he lent $5,000 in bail money to a Trenton lobbyist and former campaign aide who had been accused of stalking the chairman of the state Democratic Party, and trying to break into his car. The exchange of partisan fire came a day after revelations about the loan made to the former aide, Karen Golding, and the roles of Mr. Corzine and the party chairman, Assemblyman Joseph Cryan of Union County. Mr. Corzine's explanation did not put an end to the chatter here on Thursday over his first political misstep since taking office on Jan. 17. That it centered on something that could be viewed as a possible conflict of interest called even more attention to it, given Mr. Corzine's vow to make ethics a top priority. Jon S. Corzine has been accused of violating his own ethics guidelines when he lent $5,000 in bail money to a Trenton lobbyist and former campaign. The exchange of partisan fire came a day after revelations about the loan made to the former aide, Karen Golding, and the roles of Mr. Corzine and the party chairman, Assemblyman Joseph Cryan of Union County. Indeed, Mr. Corzine's first executive order, signed on his first day in office, strengthened ethics guidelines and included a code of conduct for the governor. He has long been described as generous to a fault, giving thousands of dollars to colleagues and friends in need. 