Christie Pardons Campaign Contributor Who Falsified Payroll Records

A financial supporter of Chris Christie's 2009 gubernatorial campaign has been pardoned by the governor following his guilty plea to falsifying payroll records.

Joseph Longo, a Morristown electrical contractor, donated $500 to Christie's 2009 campaign and his company gave $1,050 to the same bid as well as two inaugural events, according to North Jersey.com.

In 2016, Longo was fined $300,000 and sentenced to two years of probation after he pleaded guilty to falsifying payroll records related to public-works projects his company, Longo Electrical-Mechanical, performed.

Last week, Christie pardoned Longo, along with 10 others. Longo's lawyer was Jeffrey Chiesa, who Christie hired as his transition director and chief counsel in 2009 and 2010.

NorthJersey.com said Longo and Chiesa did not return calls on the pardon, and Christie's office also declined to comment.

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