NJ governor hopeful Forrester cleared of criminal wrongdoing over contribu

NJ governor hopeful Forrester cleared of criminal wrongdoing over contributions

By ANGELA DELLI SANTI
Associated Press Writer

October 27, 2005, 10:07 PM EDT

TRENTON, N.J. -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Forrester won't be charged with violating campaign finance law, the state's attorney general said Thursday, although he added that the statute Democrats accuse Forrester of violating should be re-examined.

The state law bars people with a majority interest in insurance or banking firms from contributing to political campaigns. Forrester, a multimillionaire majority owner in an insurance brokerage, has donated millions of dollars to his own campaign and hundreds of thousands to other GOP candidates.

Forrester says his actions are legal because the brokerage is licensed in the District of Columbia, not New Jersey.

"It's always nice to be vindicated," Forrester said Thursday. "We've known for a year now we've done everything right."

The campaign of Democratic gubernatorial rival Sen. Jon Corzine, which requested the investigation, said Attorney General Peter Harvey's decision falls short of vindication.
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http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-njgovernorsrace1027oct27,0,4731520.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey