NEW YORK, NY April 28, 2005 —Former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey abruptly quit his job at a private law firm last night, after ethical questions were raised about his work for a developer that had won a $1.3 billion redevelopment project from his administration.

In a written statement announcing his resignation from the law firm of State Sen. Raymond Lesniak, McGreevey said it was clear that his work had 'created distractions.'

In his position with the firm, McGreevey did legal work for two companies that were awarded a 1.3 billion dollar contract in 2003 by the McGreevey Administration to develop the Xanadu entertainment complex in the Meadowlands. The project is now being challenged in both state and Federal court by the Sierra Club over air and water quality issues.

McGreevey's critics said it was obvious he was benefiting from his previous relationship with the two companies. Senator Lesniak issued a statement denying there had been any conflict of interest.

Acting Governor Richard Codey is pledging to change state law to forbid former Governors from taking certain private sector jobs upon leaving office -- a rule many former state employees are already subject to.