Matthew O'Donnell Archives - New Jersey Globe

State’s seven-year case against Jason O’Donnell will end without conviction

September 11, 2026 10:48 amSeptember 12, 2026 5:18 pm

A nearly seven-year criminal prosecution launched by the then-fledgling Office of Public Integrity and Accountability is nearly over without a trial, conviction, or admission of guilt, after state prosecutors agreed to let former Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell (D-Bayonne) enter a one-year...

Appellate court sides with Jason O’Donnell, tells OPIA to turn over evidence

July 30, 2026 9:41 amJuly 30, 2026 11:20 pm

An appellate court has narrowed a sweeping discovery order in the bribery case against former Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell (D-Bayonne), but directed the Attorney General’s Office to turn over internal communications concerning a key recording at the center of the eight-year-old...

OPIA destroyed cell phones of investigators in corruption sting operation

June 26, 2025 5:03 pm

The embattled Office of Public Integrity and Accountability has destroyed the cell phones of detectives who investigated a nearly six-year-old bantam public corruption case against former Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell (D-Bayonne), even though investigators used those phones to send text messages...

Plea deal for ex-councilman involved in Matt O’Donnell sting operation

May 30, 2025 10:30 amMay 30, 2025 3:28 pm

Former Mount Arlington Councilman John Windish has pleaded guilty to bribery charges connected to a controversial 2019 sting operation involving former tax appeal attorney Matt O’Donnell as the state’s cooperating witness in a small-ball sting operation that has proven to...

Appellate court reverses dismissal of O’Donnell indictment

April 4, 2022 10:48 amApril 4, 2022 3:08 pm

A state appellate court has reversed the dismissal of an indictment against a former Hudson County lawmaker, saying that it is illegal to bribe a candidate even if they hold no public office at the time of the bribe. “To...

Lawyer suing Matt O’Donnell blasts deputy attorney general for communicating with judge privately

January 25, 2022 12:01 amJanuary 25, 2022 9:47 am

An attorney representing Holmdel Township today in a lawsuit against former tax appeal attorney Matt O’Donnell today slammed deputy attorney general John Nicodemo for communicating about his case with a Superior Court judge without telling him. O’Donnell is the state’s...

Sphincters tighten as N.J. awaits next shoe to drop in Matt O’Donnell sting

October 28, 2021 5:23 pmOctober 28, 2021 7:31 pm

Morristown tax appeal attorney Matthew O’Donnell allegedly committed additional crimes after he entered into a plea agreement with the New Jersey attorney general’s office on July 30, 2018, and while he was the state’s cooperating witness in five small fish...