Campus Progress’ sponsored publication at The College of New Jersey, the TCNJ Perspective, got noticed by a prominent New Jersey politics blog for its story on Newark Mayor Cory Booker charging the state school $10,000 for a recent speaking engagement.
The Perspective wrote that the honorarium seemed suspicious:
Is it customary for sitting elected officials to accept such large payments for speaking engagements at colleges? Not for Cory Booker, at least. Just one day prior to his TCNJ appearance, the Newark mayor delivered a strikingly similar lecture at neighboring Rider University. That engagement fee? $0.00.
The Perspective’s staffers couldn’t reach Booker’s office for comment. Commenters on the site are saying the money must have gone to Booker’s nonprofit, Newark Now! and that the Rider appearance was for a campaign event.
This is an interesting issue, but I doubt Booker pocketed the money (or that The College of New Jersey would let him). He’s been scandal-free for so long, and that would be quite a scandal.
(Cross-posted at CampusProgress.org)
