Paterson: Sayegh’s new law director donated thousands to his campaign, records show
By Jayed Rahman
Published: March 16, 2021
Mayor Andre Sayegh’s new law director donated thousands of dollars to his political campaign, according to state campaign finance reports.
Aymen Aboushi donated $2,000 to Sayegh’s campaign on October 21, 2020, five months before the mayor tapped him to serve as the city’s chief lawyer.
Aboushi previously donated $400 to Sayegh’s campaign on December 17, 2015.
Sayegh picked Aboushi to serve as corporation counsel on Friday.
Sayegh did not respond to a request for comment for this story on Tuesday morning.
Sayegh criticized his predecessor, former mayor Jose “Joey” Torres, for patronage hires. Sayegh has been criticized by City Council members for his “questionable hiring practices.”
Aboushi also donated funds to the campaigns of councilman Al Abdelaziz, governor Phil Murphy, and Essex County commissioner Brendan Gill. He gave $1,000 to Abdelaziz’s campaign on August 29, 2018. He also gave Murphy’s campaign $2,500 on August 9, 2017 and $1,000 to Gill’s campaign on March 31, 2020.
Aboushi specializes in commercial and employment law. He is a graduate of the Fordham Law School. He is a partner in the Aboushi Law Firm. His firm has sued Paterson in the past for police misconduct. Previously, Aboushi served as a trial attorney for the United States Department of Justice, according to Sayegh.
Aboushi is replacing former law director Farrah Irving, who resigned earlier in the month.
Sayegh, who has been compared to former president Donald Trump in his running the municipal government, has had three corporation counsels in less than three years.
Aboushi will have to be confirmed by the City Council at a later date.
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