N.J. Sen. Bryant charged with corruption

February: The U.S. attorney subpoenas records from six Assembly and Senate leaders and Democratic and Republican legislative offices, seeking records about so-called Christmas tree grants that lawmakers traditionally have stuffed into the state budget at the last minute for pet projects. This indicates the Bryant probe has widened into whether other lawmakers personally profited from grants.

February: Four lawmakers reveal they have been questioned by the FBI regarding Bryant's role in securing funding for UMDNJ.

March: The U.S. attorney subpoenas Christmas tree records from Gov. Corzine's office.

March: The U.S. attorney subpoenas records from three North Jersey legislators who have ties to organizations that received $3.4 million in Christmas tree grants.

Wayne Bryant

Age: 59

Hometown: Lawnside

Occupation: State senator and lawyer (retired from Zeller & Bryant on March 1)

Education: Bachelor's degree in political science, Howard University; law degree, Rutgers University School of Law, Camden

Public service: Camden County Board of Freeholders (1980-82), state Assembly (1982-95), state Senate (since 1995)

Major leadership roles: Chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations and Joint Budget Oversight Committees until stepping down amid the investigation last fall

Career highlights: Drew national attention in 1992 when he sponsored legislation to cut benefits to women on welfare who have more children, and was chief architect of the 2002 Camden Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act, which poured $175 million into the troubled city.

To read the indictment, go to

To read the indictment, go to

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