Gopal Makes False Allegations Over Lucas Arrest
Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal
Just as he did last October when he falsely accused a Republican candidate for Red Bank Council of being a fugitive, Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal is lying today in his attempt to make political hay over the arrest of former Manalapan Mayor Andew Lucas.
Lucas was indicted for alleged actions in connection with his purchase of Burke Farm.
The ever deceptive young chairman issued a statement to PoltickerNJ and other outlets that alleges a scandal regarding the sale of the development rights to the farm to the state/county and municipally funded Open Space program. Gopal say blatantly accuses the Republican members of the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders of being involved in the scandal. The U.S. Attorney thoroughly investigated the sale of the farm, with the cooperation of Monmouth County officials. No charges have been filed regarding the sale of the development rights. No one other than Lucas has been charged with any wrong doing.
Gopal said:
“The scandal involves the use of taxpayer-funded programs for a land deal that funneled $1.2 million dollars directly into the pockets of Lucas – with the help of the local and County Republican politicians,” Gopal said in a prepared statement. “In order to receive the money, the deal was approved by the Republican-controlled Monmouth County Freeholder Board.”
What the truth challenged Gopal fails to mention is that both the “Republican controlled” Monmouth County Board of Freeholders and the Manalapan Township Committee were divided in their votes to purchase the development rights to Lucas’s Burke Farm. This was not a “Republican” deal.
More importantly, the Open Space Program’s purchase of the development rights to the farm is not an issue on any of the 11 counts for which Lucas has been indicted. All the charges stem from Lucas’s purchase of the farm.
Multiple sources told MMM that the FBI visited the Monmouth County Hall of Records last year to investigate the Open Space transaction. In today’s announcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office charged only Lucas and only for alleged actions he took in his own purchase of the farm. There were no charges against Lucas or anyone else for any action pertaining to the Open Space transaction wherein Manalapan, Monmouth County and the State of New Jersey funded the acquisition of Lucas’s development rights on the farm.
MMM asked U.S. Attorney spokesman Matthew Reilly if there were any charges pending regarding the $1.2 million sale of the development rights to the Farm Preservation Program. Reilly said, “All I can tell you is no one other than Mr. Lucas has been charged, and our investigation is continuing.”
In response to Gopal’s statement, Monmouth County Republican Chairman John Bennett said, “It is unfortunate that Chairman Gopal would attempt to rewrite a federal indictment to suit a political end.
“The U. S. Attorney’s statement is clear that the charges assessed against Mr. Lucas are not against any body with respect to the preservation of his farm, but rather with his own actions to acquire the farm.
“Gopal is attempting to twist reality for selfish political reasons. This is disappointing as every public official has an obligation to tell the truth.”
Doubling down on his deceit, Gopal referred MMM to a statement he made in the Asbury Park Press in response to our request for comment:
“Today we see yet another example of corruption from the Monmouth County Republican Party,” Gopal said in a prepared statement. “The scandal involves the use of taxpayer funded programs for a land deal that funneled $1.2 million dollars directly into the pockets of Lucas, with the help of the local and county Republican politicians.
“We demand answers from the Freeholder Board and especially career politician (Freeholder) Lillian Burry, who endorsed and voted to approve the deal,” Gopal said. “Burry raised thousands of dollars at a fundraiser sponsored by Lucas on the very property that was up for consideration by the Freeholder Board. We need change on the freeholder board in order to stop the pattern of corruption and taxpayer abuse.”
Last month Judge Lawrence M. Lawson ruled in dismissing with prejudice a suit brought by Larry Luttrell, one of Gopal’s freeholder candidates last year, that the fundraiser in question had no bearing on the preservation of Lucas’s farm, as the Board of Freeholders had authorized the purchase five months prior to the fundraising event on the farm. Lawson summarily dismissed Luttrell’s lawsuit that alleged that Freeholder Lillian Burry had a conflict of interest when she voted to preserve the farm.
Gopal said that he also agreed with Freeholder John Curley’s comment to the Asbury Park Press:
“I believe (the farmland preservation money) should be returned in full to the state of New Jersey, the township of Manalapan and the county of Monmouth,” Curley said in a telephone interview upon learning of Lucas’ arrest.
Curley is a Republican. Freeholder Tom Arnone, also a Republican, joined Curley in voting against the final funding of the Burke Farm preservation.
More from my site
Andrew Lucas Arrested
Lucas Posts Two Properties To Cover His Bail
Monmouth Democrats Are Off And Running- Andrew Lucas Resigns From Manalapan Township Committee
- Lucas released till Monday
- A-Rod’s transgressions don’t make The Yankees dirty
Lucas Farm Purchase Stalled in Manalapan
Democratic Freeholder Candidates Slam Lucas Farm Deal
The Lucas Farm Deal Explained
Judge Lawson: Freeholder Lillian Burry had no conflict of interest regarding Lucas farm vote
What else would you expect from the piece of sh:t. Though he does know corruption – he was convicted felon Joe Vas’s bagman
just oozes slime every time he talks. But what do expect from a Democrat who will do anything and say anything for attention.
That said, this doesn’t make things easier for us in an already difficult year.
@monmouthgirl…speaking of false statements you just made one…nothing like reminding everyone how the NJ Republican State Committee engaged in gutter politics right out of the Nixon playbook when Gopal ran for office
Link to Bob Ingles piece on the Republican State Committee lies:
http://blogs.app.com/politicspatrol/2011/11/06/18355/
Also from that article: PolitiFact New Jersey also investigated the mailer and found that readers of the ad could infer improprieties by Gopal, but there’s no proof that he did anything wrong. It said “Given that law enforcement and a public database all confirm that Gopal had no connection of any kind to the Vas criminal case, the implications made by the ad aren’t just ridiculous, they’re also outrageous … This claim is Pants on Fire!”
The “Pants on Fire” rating means the Republicans went beyond misleading the public. It is a 100 per cent bald-faced lie and one they conceived to benefit their candidates who should be able to campaign on the issues. It’s not like the sate doesn’t have serious problems. They may think it’s only a political campaign and will pass but the GOP State Committee needs to know after this, anything else it sends out will be suspect and deservedly so.
Gopal certainly was “No Mas” Joe Vas’s bag man in Perth Amboy. Gopal has absolutely no moral character and should resign as Monmouth County Democratic Chair. It is no wonder that Sweeney and Booker didn’t invite him to their Democratic leadership dinner of county chairs in his own home county.
This isn’t surprising to any of us who have known Gopal for a while. He is a spoiled rich kid who has never had to work a day in his life. Mommy and Daddy bought him a defunct Democratic rag newspaper which seems to be anything but in publication anymore.
Ask Bob Ingle to do some more research before you throw up links Mr. English. You come off like as an uneducated Gopal bag man.
Same guy who got his ass beat as county chair this year and took credit for winning a school board race and the Mayoral race in Tinton Falls. He fits right in with Ambrosia, Middletown Mike and these other fools who represent the Monmouth Dems. No wonder they haven’t won a race with this guy yet.
@Gopal in English…I did plenty of research the last time when the New Jersey Republican State Committee went into the sewer to dredge up and spread lies against Gopal. Several newspapers in the State called them out on it. As for people who are afraid to post comments under their own name want to post lies in the comments section here so be it. I’ll stick with the truth.
http://www.politifact.com/new-jersey/statements/2011/nov/04/new-jersey-republican-state-committee/vin-gopal-targeted-gop-attack-ad-new-jersey-assemb/
Keep it up, Vin! Glad to see you learned well while you were so closely affiliated with my corrupt campaigns and practices!
I’m sorry that Bob English keeps dredging up the fact that all those “media” sources cleared you, when you and I know you would rather he forget about it. After all, if there were any libelous statements made against you, you would have sued, right?
As I am sure your lawyers told you, the truth is the ultimate defense to a libel suit. And we all know you certainly don’t want the truth of our dealings to come out.
Anyway, I should be getting out soon, and will need that “package” I gave you to hold. I hope you haven’t spent it….oops, I mean lost it.
Gopal is the best thing to ever happen to the Monmouth County Republicans. Outside of being the bag man for Vas, he has lost every single campaign he ever managed. Every one.
Vas for Congress: LOSS
Pat Walsh: LOSS
Gopal for Assembly: LOSS
Gopal as Chairman in Freeholder races: LOSS, LOSS
What does Gopal do for a living? I read above that his parents bought him a newspaper. Does he actually run it?
@ Joe Vas……Bob English also dredged up that fact that “law enforcement and a public database all confirm that Gopal had no connection of any kind to the Vas criminal case.”
But since you seem to have evidence of wrongdoing (that law enforcement never found), why not crawl out from under your rock, show some guts and post it here (under your real name) rather than hiding under the Republican State Committee’s pack of lies. Better yet, send your evidence to the AG’s office Otherwise you are just reminding people of how the Republican State Committee and gutter politics were perfect together and how you engage in the same.
“I feel the conflict within you. …. The hate is swelling in you now. Let the hate flow through you.”
If you want to talk about gutter politics, you and your liberal friends have cornered the market on that.
Signed,
Silence Dogood, Redux
I see how Bob English conveniently forgets how Vin Gopal has a problem with writing a truthful press release.
Andrew Lucas may be guilty as sin or completely innocent in acquisition of the property. That is for the legal process to determine. What was determined by review of the complaint for this investigation was that the application for farmland preservation itself was not tainted.
You don’t get it do you? Liberals like Bob have a short memory, conducive only to going after Republicans when they do wrong.
They forget about Democrats. Come on, get with the “Hypocrisy Program,” will ya? 🙂
But worse, when we point out the hypocrisy; they cry “irrelevant,” or “how dare you.”
Again, let’s wait till the verdict is in; but the Democrat Drones need to quite forgiving their own.
@Barry, Yeah, I guess you can say in my old age, I too have a short memory (being sarcastic of course) It seems the Republicans have controlled Monmouth County for quite a long time, hence the monkiker “Club Monmouth.”
I remember quite well, Harry Larrison. I remember Amy Mallet sitting on the Board, but still voting for Harry as director; I remember Operation Bid Rig (and all its ridiculous phases like part 1, part 2 and part 3); I remember Brookdale–and the only Republican to call for an investigation and step down of those involved was Freeholder John Curley; I remember Lucas being given financial backing from the Freeholder Board to acquire property–which was acquired via false pretenses (are we going to get the money back?); I remember a sheriff’s official who got a fake job so he can illegally collect a pension and a salary.
I do remember quite well. All Republican crimes against the taxpayers!
It wasn’t Amy Mallet–it was Handlin (R). Sorry Amy for the mistake
Bob you mean the kind of gutter politics Vin Gapal learned from his convicted felon mentor Joe Vas?
A democrat judge – Larry Lawson said Burry did nothing wrong and u and Gapal know the State, County and Town purchase of the development rights have nothing to do with Andy boys stupidity. so tell Gapal that if he keeps telling lies about us we will keep telling the truth about him!
I remember in 2009 the one year the D’s were in charge they raised taxes and fired 40 law enforcement officers. And they reached out to bosses in Union county for permission to fire and hire people from Hudson and Union! And the Rs should the smoking gun emails back then and ended the D’s reign of terror!
there would never have been the best county college, library system, and park system in the state. Period. Then, too, we’d be paying twice as much to ship our garbage out into Pa. Period.. 2. No bids were rigged in this county.- 5 months of audits and investigations proved it.. 3. Despite sins of one guy, BCC is still the best, and the guy got his punishment- and,one guy grandstands whenever possible,for his own self aggrandizement,and 4. One greedy kid’s personal financial mistake does not take from the fact that if we don’t want to look like Middlesex soon, we’d better preserve any farms or greenspace,while we still can..stop singing the Dems song: not gonna work: people move here,and stay here, because of the excellent quality of life Republicans built over the decades, NOT Dems!
shhhhh. Don’t you get it?
The Democrats don’t believe things like that. That don’t want anyone to know such stuff because they are failures
they leave one crime- ridden, over-developed,and over-taxed county up north, then move here,for a better life quality, but bring their Democrat voting habits with them, as they try and make this like where they left! We have to keep shutting them and their lies, to the low- info crowds, down!
Vinny The Virus, hmmmm 🙂
The dems are bitching about one wayward rep, like Lucas. Just come to Marlboro and watch the Johnny Hornick show. He wheels more money in from Bergen and middlesex county, to run elections, so he can stay in power and feed the disgraced decotis group. The proof is in the pudding, Monmouth is the best county in the state, because of the republicans , and now Hornick is here to open the door for the democratic machine to come and take over all the water auth s and rape all the money and give it to their lawyer buddies, the leadership in Monmouth had better wake up and see the threat that Johnny posses to our way of life, he’s ten times more dangerous then Ginny gospel will ever be.
Come on Art, just say John Curley told MMM. Everyone knows that all he cares about is himself. Speaking of Democrats with short memory span. It was the former Democrat now republican to win an election who voted to join in with the state and manalapan to purchase the development rights to this piece of land. But because when the final vote came and people like Steve mcenry stroke Curley’s ego he was all of a sudden against it. That and the fact that he personally despises a certain freeholder and is and has tried to do everything in his little power he has to destroy that freeholder for the last 4+ years and has failed everytime. And what people and idiots like Gopal and Cirely don’t understand is that the Freeholders don’t go out looking for applications and farms to buy. There’s a department in the county who does that and they could care less who owns it! It’s about the land. Not the person. And Lucas application was treated as if it were an ordinary application. Regardless of what his title was at the time. Do I think it was stupid of him to do so while Mayor and a sitting member of a governing body? Absolutely! But doesn’t change that no illegal actions were demonstrated by the freeholder board or the manalapan committee in purchasing this land. Curley may be doing a victory dance now, but he shouldn’t get too excited because like everything else he sticks his nose in, he fails miserably.
My personal experiences are that Freeholder Curley is very responsive to the needs of his constituents and issues of importance to their communities. D & R politics aside, I know plenty of people that feel exactly the same way.
-pretty much nailed it…
Not really interested in the petty politics..but this deal should never have been approved. Sitting mayor, possible freeholder candidate and looking to “flip” property for a personal profit after buying it in 2010? Any Republican, Democrat or Independent with some moral compass would have voted NO. They knew this deal stunk…and still voted for it?
A few writers above wrote about Monmouth County turning into Middlesex and that writer is correct! Look at South Brunswick – as far back as the late 90s and early 00s it was all farms and look at it now, its a disgrace. The same can be said about Monroe. Those are two towns that were very rural in recent memory.
What one town in Monmouth reminds you of this? What one town looks like somebody threw up housing developments all over the place with no planning of foresight? Marlboro is the answer.
Where is Vin lying Art?
Vinny the virus lies any time his lips move
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