Gov. Chris Christie says it's time for a New Jersey mayor under indictment to step down.

Mayor John Bencivengo
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He said on the "Ask the Governor" show on the New Jersey 101.5 FM that Hamilton Township's John Bencivengo should resign.

He says that while the mayor has a presumption of innocence in court, he doesn't have an entitlement to a public office and that resigning would remove a cloud of suspicion from the town government.

The mayor was charged in April with attempted extortion for allegedly taking about $12,000 in bribes from someone seeking to maintain a contract with the township's school district.

Last week, a federal grand jury added a money laundering charge against the mayor.

Through his lawyer, he has denied the charges.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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