Two new jersey democrat public officials arrested for corrupt political payback scandal

TRENTON — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, alongside the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), announced today that criminal charges have been filed against two members of the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) Board of Commissioners. The charges include second-degree official misconduct and conspiracy to commit official misconduct, as well as third-degree perjury.

The accused, Vice Chairman Christopher Milam, 45, and Board Commissioner Bryan Bush, 52, both residents of Sewell, New Jersey, allegedly colluded to obstruct payments to a civil engineering firm. This act was purportedly in political retaliation related to a dispute between a South Jersey Democratic Party leader and a Mercer County Commissioner.

The OPIA Corruption Bureau’s ongoing investigation revealed that Milam and Bush conspired to halt the payment for services already rendered by the engineering firm, casting votes during three SJTA Board meetings in 2023 to prevent the authority from fulfilling its financial obligations. The defendants allegedly had no legitimate grounds for their actions, which were said to be politically motivated.

Attorney General Platkin emphasized the commitment to holding powerful figures accountable, stating that misuse of position for political retribution will not be tolerated. Drew Skinner, Executive Director of OPIA, highlighted that the actions of Milam and Bush represent a violation of public trust, noting their alleged attempts to fabricate reasons for their decisions during grand jury testimony.

Further findings from the investigation indicate that on each occasion, the votes cast by Milam and Bush prevented the board from achieving the necessary majority for approval, resulting in unpaid invoices for the engineering firm.

Evidence suggests that the political motives behind these actions were linked to a text message from Milam to Bush, stating a retaliatory intent against the Mercer County Commissioner who defied party directives.

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