Christie fundraiser being hosted by man he pardoned

A contractor pardoned by Gov. Chris Christie in 2017 is hosting a high-dollar fundraiser for Christie’s presidential campaign at his home this month.

Joseph Longo, an electrical contractor from Morristown, pleaded guilty to falsifying payroll records in 2016 and was sentenced to two years of probation and fined $300,000.   He had been charged with not paying prevailing wages to Longo Electrical-Mechanical, Inc. employees on public works projects connected to Montclair and the Middlesex County Utilities Authority.

POLITICO reported in 2017 that Longo’s company faked the certification that he paid employees the statutorily required prevailing wage.

Christie pardoned Longo, a contributor to his 2009 gubernatorial campaign, on December 22, 2017, during his final month in office.  Longo’s attorney was former U.S. Senator Jeff Chiesa, who had served as Christie’s attorney general and chief counsel.    Christie’s office declined to comment on the pardon at the time.

Longo’s company had also contributed to Christie.   The firm had received public contracts from agencies controlled by Christie and others.

Published reports suggested that Christie and Longo became acquainted when their sons attended the same school, Delbarton.

The fundraiser is set for September 13, with per-person ticket prices ranging from $1,000 to $3,300.

Longo and his wife, Pamela, who is co-hosting the fundraiser, have each already contributed $3,300 to Christie for President.

He donated to Donald Trump’s campaigns in 2016 – after Christie’s withdrawal – and in 2020, as well as the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, and Mehmet Oz’s 2022 U.S. Senate campaign.

The New Jersey Attorney General’s office, which negotiated a plea deal with Longo, issued no press releases or statements about the charges.

Since 2017, Longo has also served as president of Anax Power, which markets products to generate renewable electricity through natural gas.