Report: Schroeder Will Not Leave Assembly Seat

State Assemblyman Robert Schroeder said he would not give up his seat after being charged with writing almost $400,000 in bad checks, according to a report on NJ.com.

Schroeder, 52, was to investors in his Hillsdale-based company, . State Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa alleged Schroeder had knowingly written the bad checks.

Schroeder said Monday he would not step down from his seat in the New Jersey State Assembly, according to the report. He had previously admitted to writing about $100,000 in bad checks and said the debt had already been paid.

"I am not going anywhere," Schroeder said, according to the report. "This has nothing to do with my legislative office; it's a private matter."

Governor Chris Christie said he would not call for Schroeder to resign unless he was charged by a grand jury, according to the report.

According to Chiesa, the attorney general, Schroeder "intentionally" wrote bad checks to investors from bank accounts for API and two other companies he owns, Hercules Global Logistics, LLC and RS Consultants, LLC.

State officials searched Schroeder's Washington Township home and API's Hillsdale office Friday. Chiesa said the investigation was still ongoing.

API makes fabric and aluminum structures. According to , the company "primarily supplies the U.S. military, but also works with overseas military units, international relief organizations and municipal governments."

Last year, the federal government turned down a bid for 26 soft shelters from API, even though they gave the lowest offer, citing the company's past performance. Officials wrote in the report that several aspects of API's performance were "unsatisfactory."

The federal government turned down another bid from API in 2010 because their products were "not unique or innovative."

Schroeder, a Republican, represents New Jersey's 39th District in the State Assembly. He began his first term in 2010 and started a second term this year. He has been an active member of the Washington Township community for years, having previously served as a firefighter and member of the council.

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