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LEFT WING LOONS Title: Another naked Democrat online: NJ politician demands nude photos of himself be removed from website MILLVILLE — One of Cumberland County's most influential politicians, Louis N. Magazzu, is using an attorney to fight a political activist who is behind a website posting embarrassing photos and emails from a cyber-affair Magazzu admits to having while married. Center City resident Carl B. Johnson has posted pleas on his website, magazzuwatch.com, for donations to a legal fund. Meanwhile, the website still carries the images that touched off the dispute -- nude photos of Magazzu it censored. On Monday, Johnson said he's put that fundraising on hold after an encouraging meeting with an attorney, whom he did not identify. "It's strictly a First Amendment issue," Johnson said. The attorney, he said, "basically said, 'Talk to the press; keep doing what you're doing.'" Johnson said the photos and messages will remain, and he promised to post any new information about the issue. "The website isn't about posting shots of Lou naked or anything," Johnson said. "It is about exposing the underbelly of local politics. He was the figurehead, the person who ran the party and the freeholder board for a decade. Even though he has stepped down, I don't believe he has stopped wielding influence." Johnson had received a three-page letter last week on behalf of Magazzu, a longtime Cumberland County freeholder who recently stepped down as chairman of the county's Democratic Party. Rocco C. Cipparone Jr., a criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor hired by Magazzu, states "posting and disseminating" of the photos and messages should stop immediately. He warned Johnson he may face criminal charges and civil liability. Magazzu, also an attorney, acknowledges taking the nude pictures of himself with a cellphone. He told The Daily Journal he forwarded the photos, along with others in which he is fully clothed, to an unidentified woman. The explicit shots were sent at her request after he sent other pictures in which he is fully dressed, Magazzu said. Magazzu said the two never met in person, and only shared the pictures and flirty exchanges by email. He is in the process of divorcing his wife, an action that started before Johnson obtained and published the photos. At some point, Magazzu told The Daily Journal last month, he realized his actions with the woman were seriously wrong, sought counseling and ended the contacts. The woman and Magazzu were exchanging friendly and flirty emails into this March, based on emails provided to the newspaper. The woman's emails, based on time stamps, continued well after the point at which she told Johnson she wanted nothing to do with Magazzu. Earlier this year, the woman sent those images and email exchanges to Johnson. On Monday, Cipparone released a statement to The Daily Journal on behalf of Magazzu. It said the images were sent to another "consenting adult solely as private communications between them and not for further distribution." The attorney said Magazzu has not yet asked prosecutors to review the matter, but is "contemplating all of his options." The woman solicited "uncensored images" from Magazzu after she began working with Johnson, according to Cipparone. "Mr. Magazzu and his wife have been separated for nearly two years," Cipparone stated. "Mr. Magazzu apologizes for any unintentionally caused embarrassment to the people of Cumberland County. He already has apologized to his family for the embarrassment caused by these private communications, which without his consent now have been made public in censored form in the website, and apparently in uncensored form distributed more broadly by Johnson." Unlike the scandal earlier this year in which New York congressman Anthony Weiner used Twitter to accidentally publish a photo of himself wearing underwear while aroused, Magazzu exchanged his images only privately. Cipparone's letter asking magazzuwatch.com to stop publishing the pictures originally was sent to Millville attorney James Swift, an acquaintance of Johnson. Swift, who is not representing Johnson, forwarded it to him. "My preliminary analysis reveals that any such dissemination by Mr. Johnson likely violates criminal statutes in New Jersey, and gives rise to civil causes of action," Cipparone states in the letter. The letter also says Magazzu "remains harmed by the past and continued postings and other dissemination of photographs and materials." The potential political fallout from the embarrassing online postings is huge. Magazzu, who has been trying to play a bigger role with Democrats on the national level, consulted with trusted allies and sought their advice on whether he should resign his freeholder post after the website published the explicit images. A resignation could have devastating results for county Democrats, who already face a tough election battle this November to maintain their 4-3 control of the Board of Freeholders. It's also unclear whether the "ick factor" involving the photos will taint Democrats who are closely linked with such a ubiquitous county leader. The scandal has not come fully into the open on the Board of Freeholders. However, the head of the county Republican Party, Robert Greco, came close to making it public at last Tuesday's board meeting. Greco questioned Freeholder Director William Whelan, a Democrat, on whether the county had an ethics commission. On Monday, Greco said he had advised Whelan he planned to address the topic at the meeting and that the Magazzu controversy was the reason. Greco said he realizes the scandal affects Magazzu's family and feels sympathy for his family. "And that's all I have to say about that," he said. As for Cipparone's letter to Johnson, Greco said: "It's a misfortune that I believe Lou Magazzu is not prepared to accept. He still believes fully he can threaten an individual and force them to back down." Greco said his concern as Republican chairman is how county government might be affected. "I think he should have given a public statement and gotten right," Greco said, meaning Magazzu should correct his behavior. "He's not ready to do that," Greco said. "I think he's trying to suppress what's out there." Asked whether Magazzu should resign, Greco said: "I think there needs to be an ethical review of how his conduct may have affected county government. On the other hand, 'should he resign' is a political aspect of this." Greco said the Democratic Party wants Magazzu to remain in office until September. A resignation after that point would keep the seat in Democrats' hands into the next election. "That's what this is all about," Greco said. "There are political decisions being made. This is damage control for them." Greco said he and the GOP are not part of Johnson's campaign. "He's out there on his own," he said, "I don't contribute to magazzuwatch." Cipparone's letter last month suggests several legal problems for Johnson. Johnson's decision to provide the nude photos to The Daily Journal last month could be a criminal act, the attorney indicates in the letter. Also, Cipparone said some of Johnson's critical comments about Magazzu suggest "occupational misconduct" and thus could be considered defamation that's punishable under New Jersey law. Johnson, who calls himself a Republican "activist," started magazzuwatch.com in December 2008. He has two partners, whom he has not identified other than to say they're Democrats. The website calls itself a "nonpartisan political watchdog" on county politics. The website's regular focus is on Magazzu in his various roles as freeholder, party chairman and Democratic powerbroker. The two men have an acrimonious relationship predating the website. Neither is shy about expressing opinions on the other in private, although in public venues Magazzu rarely mentions Johnson. He has tweaked Johnson over the latter's arrest for not paying child support. The festering situation hit a new level early in July: • On July 4, Johnson posted a head and chest photo of a shirtless Magazzu. • On July 6, Johnson sent The Daily Journal an email containing uncensored photographs and accompanying private email exchanges between Magazzu and the unidentified woman. Daily Journal editors decided not to write a story about the materials at that time, judging it a private matter between consenting adults that did not involve any evidence of illegality or improper use of government resources. Johnson criticized the newspaper's decision on his website. • The material subsequently was offered to other area newspapers and other media, none of which published a story about them. • On July 7, Johnson posted a photo of Magazzu in which he is pantless and his genitals are exposed. An image is imposed over Magazzu's genitals, however. • On July 8, Johnson posted more censored nude photos, plus an Internet exchange between Magazzu and a woman. Johnson also posted mocking and taunting messages.
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#1. To: Happy Quanzaa (#0)
Let me guess, he's saying it was with a woman so he can try to cover up his real sexual orientation...... Why is it all the politicians on that side of the fence are fags?????
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