Christie Crime Digest-Vol. I

[Laxman]

Last edited Tue Nov 7, 2017, 09:50 PM - Edit history (321)

You need a program just to follow the action! Here are some shortcuts to help you keep up. Its so much more than Bridgegate!

And its too big for just one volume! MAKE SURE TO VISIT Christie Crime Digest Vol. II with all the latest updates! As much good stuff as you will find here in Volume I, there's just as much in Volume II, Volume III-The Prosecution! and now the exciting Volume IV-The Trial!

Governor Christie-Always managing to "keep it classy"! Get back here you so I can have the State Troopers beat you up!



1. You've got the Hunterdon County mess. The Quashing of a Case Against a Christie Ally: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/11/nyregion/43-count-indictment-of-a-christie-ally-quashed.html?smid=pl-share&_r=0 A quick primer on just how scummy Guadagno is and how valuable it is to be a FOC'er (Friend of Chris).

* A little update-Christie Accuser Renews Request for Grand Jury Records http://www.njlawjournal.com/id=1202718401357/Christie-Accuser-Renews-Request-for-Grand-Jury-Records -I especially like the line "I'm sure there's a Mrs. McGovern who appreciates your paycheck". What scumbags. I generally don't resort to language of this sort but it's just so accurately descriptive.

2. There's the Pinelands Pipeline for the Koch Brothers. Panel Blocks Gas Pipeline in New Jersey Pinelands: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/12/nyregion/panel-blocks-gas-pipeline-near-aquifer-in-new-jersey.html We'll sacrifice a globally important habitat to make a few bucks for the Kochs and their friends.

3.The GWB caper that now has its own Wikipedia page!: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Lee_lane_closure_scandal Now you know you've made it when you have your own Wikipedia page.

4. The Hoboken Shakedown. Christie top lieutenants said Sandy money ‘connected’ to city redevelopment plan: Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/hoboken-mayor-dawn-zimmer-christie-top-lieutenants-sandy-money-connected-redevelopment-plan-article-1.1583828 This is the big one boys and girls. Extortion, misuse of federal funds, the key to Pandora's box. THIS is the one that's going to bring him down.

5. The firing of the Highlands Council Executive Director-complete with intimidation of Highlands Council members. Editorial: N.J. Gov. Chris Christie moves to fire a Highlands Council director he can't control: http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2012/03/nj_gov_chris_christie_moves_to_1.html All must obey or else.

6. Misuse of Sandy money (thought we forgot about that one, didn't you?)Feds investigate Christie's use of Sandy relief funds: http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/13/politics/christie-feds-investigating-sandy-ads/ Hey, so what if I used a few bucks to make a family beach movie.

7. Todd Christie-(oh, that not "fair game&quot Christie says: Lay off his brother SEC probe that cleared Todd Christie is unfair game, he said.: http://articles.philly.com/2009-04-07/news/25287471_1_negative-campaigns-monitoring-contract-contributions Hey, if you can't use your position to help out your brother, what good is having it?

* Strange doings between the Christie brothers-Why was Chris Christie's brother not indicted? :http://www.bluejersey.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=11154 How else could Chris get ahead?

**Todd Christie-the gift that just keeps on giving! Or is it the guy with gifts who just keeps on being given to? Chris Christie Officials Give Atlantic City Contract To Firm Of Governor’s Brother:http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-officials-give-atlantic-city-contract-firm-governors-brother-1888988 This seems to be a re-occurring theme.

8. Christie & Ashcroft. Ashcroft Deal Brings Scrutiny in Justice Dept.: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/washington/10justice.html?pagewanted=all You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.

*When called to answer for handing out "deferred prosecution monitoring agreements" like party favors to his buddies, Christie just walked out of the Judiciary Committee hearing-In Testy Exchange in Congress, Christie Defends His Record as a Prosecutor:http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/nyregion/26christie.html?_r=0 Just a stand-up guy.

9. Christie's Travel Expenses. Chris Christie, while U.S. attorney, often exceeded travel expense budget: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/11/gov_christie_cited_as_us_attor.html Always travel first class!

10. Christie & Michelle Brown (very interesting) Christie May Have Gotten Improper Aid : http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/nyregion/20brown.html?pagewanted=all Don't worry Chris, Michelle's got it all under control. That's what you paid for isn't it?

*For a more thorough understanding of the relationship between Christie and Michelle Brown (and its far smellier than the Fenimore landfill in July) check out PNWMom's outstanding post here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024326360

11. Port Authority patronage ("they came in like cockroaches&quot At Port Authority, Christie Appointees Took Control : http://www.wnyc.org/story/port-authority-christie-appointees-control/ Who's got the Raid?

12. Diversion of the ARC Tunnel funds (perhaps the most damaging for the long term) Report Disputes Christie’s Basis for Halting Tunnel: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/nyregion/report-disputes-christies-reason-for-halting-tunnel-project-in-2010.html?pagewanted=all There are no words. This is just disgusting.

*just a little update on this fiasco-Analysis: New Jersey Facing Hefty Price Tag For New Rail Tunnels http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/10/22/analysis-new-jersey-facing-hefty-price-tag-for-new-rail-tunnels/ Nice job governor-place the entire region at risk and cost us billions-brilliant!

What does the future hold? The Amazing Chriswell tells me to watch for Sea Bright, Belmar e-mails and Sandy Money. And Remember My Friends-Future Events Such As These Will Effect YOU In The Future!



13. The air pollution monitor closest to the George Washington bridge shut off at the height of the Ft. Lee lane closures (a working monitor would have raised the alarm to the Department of Environmental Protection that the pollution levels were too high, probably triggering the re-opening of the Fort Lee lanes) Air Monitors See Spike in Pollution During 'Bridgegate': http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/01/22/air-monitors-see-spike-in-pollution-during-bridgegate

14. The Christie administration has fired the contractor in charge of handing out Sandy relief money for the state -- without announcing it to the public. Christie officials fire Hurricane Sandy contractor in the dark: Editorial: http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2014/01/christie_officials_fire_sandy.html No money for actual victims but tens of millions for incompetent political hacks! Nice job Christie.

15.Who can I blame for leaving the brand new dual mode locomotives in the flood zone during Sandy? Hearings Loom On Decision To Leave One Third Of New Jersey Transit Trains In Hoboken And Kearney During Sandy (resulting in $120M in damaged trains and equipment - part of the Hoboken Shakedown?): http://www.northjersey.com/news/Senate_panel_to_hold_hearings_on_NJ_Transit_decision_to_leave_third_of_fleet_in_Hoboken_Kearny_during_Sandy__.html It wasn't my fault! Who knew the flood zone would flood during a hurricane?

16:The Belleville Red Herring: After its mayor endorsed Christie, Belleville got $6M in federal Sandy money -- for a senior housing development not affected by the storm Christie used Sandy funds for senior complex in town where mayor endorsed him: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/questions_raised_about_christies_use_of_sandy_funds_to_build_complex_in_town_where_mayor_endorsed_hi.html May not have been Sandy related but he did endorse Christie. Time for your payment Mr. Mayor!

*(Update on # 16- Turns out there was actually more money sent to Belleville- $10.2 million- for a non Sandy project- http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/02/nj_gives_more_federal_funds_to_controversial_belleville_project.html)


Might as well add some more:

17: Slurping at the Harrison NJ trough - a $250M development deal has financial ties to Christie's bother Todd, as well as his Port Authority pal David Sampson (who voted for the project) Governor Christie's brother invested in real estate near new PATH station in Harrison : http://www.northjersey.com/news/Governors_brother_invested_in_houses_near_new_PATH_station_in_Harrison.html Being the Governor is the next best thing to having a brother who is governor.

18: Christie Loyalist To Run Ethics Panel That Would Get Bridgegate Complaints: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/01/29/christie-loyalist-to-run-ethics-commission-that-would-field-bridgegate-complaints/ When there's trouble on the horizon it pays to fix the game.

This is a big one (thanks Rocktivity & Highplainsdem!)

19: "Rockefeller Group, a real estate developer whose proposed office complex in Hoboken, N.J...has terminated its contract with the firm Wolff & Samson." Hoboken Site Developer Dismisses Law Firm But as long as the firm's founder David Sampson still has a job with the Port Authority, does it really matter? http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/31/nyregion/hoboken-site-developer-dismisses-law-firm.html I'm sure poor old Wolff & Sampson will be O.K. but Rockefeller Group certainly recognizes the smell of death when its in the air.

20. Through his lawyer, Wildstein claims to have proof that Christie knew all about it (Hints at PA Legal Fees and/or Immunity) Letter From Wildstein’s Lawyer on Lane Closings: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/02/01/nyregion/bridge-letter.html Hopefully we'll all hear about it!

21. Part of the diversion of Sandy money to projects unrelated to Sandy. $4.8 million in Sandy relief funds went to help build New Brunswick apartment complex (thanks LiberalEsto) $4.8 million in Sandy relief funds went to help build New Brunswick apartment complex : http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/48_million_in_sandy_relief_funds_went_to_new_brunswick_apartment_complex.html But its so much more important for the mayor to have endorsed Christie!

22. Christie took 10 months to implement federal Sandy aid law, report says. Part of the attempt to keep total control of the Sandy money for Christie's own purposes and aggrandizement Christie took 10 months to implement federal Sandy aid law, report says: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/02/christie_took_10_months_to_implement_federal_sandy_aid_law.html Oh, those silly rules.

The hits just keep coming in! I'll keep adding them. There will be more. Hope this proves to be interesting reading.
(edited again because the hits just keep coming in!) And another thing!

23. The slimiest of his slimy moves. He lied on TV. got sued for defamation and had to print a full page apology in the local paper: Chris Christie’s 1994 ad was too tough (and inaccurate) for Jersey: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/chris-christies-1994-ad-was-too-tough-and-inaccurate-for-jersey/2014/01/19/b69f0d86-7ef8-11e3-93c1-0e888170b723_story.html A classic example of scumbaggery!

* and for your reference in relation to entry #23, in case you couldn't tell what a slimeball he is, here is the video of the ad that got him sued:

What kind of person sits there with his smiling wife and baby beside him and lies to the camera like that? Someone without morals!

24. Christie administration staffer resigns amid lane closures probe. Christine Renna says good-bye to her gig at the Governor's Office. A nice follow up article here: Resigned Christie staffer is married to Pinelands pipeline company exec: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/02/resigned_christie_staffer_is_married_to_pinelands_pipeline_company_executive.html I'm sure they never talked about it at home-and if you believe that I've got a bridge to sell....oh, that may not be the best saying to use around Christie's people.

Let Me See. How Can I Manage To Use My Influence To Rig This Decision & Make A Boatload Of Money At The Same Time?



25. BEFORE BRIDGEGATE & HOBOKEN, A SCANDAL CHRISTIE CAN’T SHAKE -the Christie administration has been trying to escape a pension probe that implicates Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.(thank you Willie T) :http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2014/01/21/before-bridgegate-and-hoboken-scandals-there-was-doublegate/ Guadagno is as dirty as the snow on the side of the Turnpike. She may go down before Christie.

26. Nothing New but an interesting take on Christie from 2009 called Chris Christie's Closet from Politicker NJ: http://www.politickernj.com/humorme/28755/chris-christies-closet#.Ulb72rjVFo0.twitter

27. Lawyers for Christie administration are seeking documents and a "private interview" from Hoboken mayor Dawn Zimmer. She has already given the documents to the Feds. As for the interview, she and her lawyer "question whether it is appropriate for the Governor’s Office, in essence, to be investigating itself..." Lawyers for Christie administration seeking documents, interview with Hoboken mayor: http://www.northjersey.com/news/Lawyer_for_Christie_administration_seeking_documents_interview_with_Hoboken_mayor_.html We just want to talk to you-you know "talk".

28. Report: Wolff & Samson profited from Port Authority takeover of Atlantic City airport-Wolff & Samson, the West Orange-based law firm cofounded by Port Authority chairman David Samson, profited off a deal struck by the agency last year to takeover Atlantic City International Airport, according to a report Tuesday by WNYC. The Power Broker: How Christie's Port Point Man Plays All Sides of Transit Deals : http://www.wnyc.org/story/atlantic-city-airport-samson/?utm_source=Newsletter%3A+WNYC+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=6e75377c4d-Daily_Brief_Jan_27_20141_26_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_edd6b58c0d-6e75377c4d-70663857 Yeah, this is related to the port's business, sure it is. As long as the business of the port is making money for Sampson.

29. Chris Christie Named In Federal Tort Claim Lawsuit! Christie “utilized his office as a collection agency for his relatives and extorted money from the claimant for the benefit of his family in violation of the Hobbs Act.” (say it ain't so!) Christie Named In Federal Lawsuit http://njtoday.net/2009/05/27/christie-named-in-federal-lawsuit/ Wasn't this an episode of the Sopranos in Season 3?

30. Samson on THREE SIDES of a publicly financed real estate deal for the American Dream Mall monstrosity! Representing the Developer, the financing agency and the regulatory body controlling the site How can this be allowed to happen? As Inquiry Widens, Port Authority Chief May Lose His Low Profile: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/16/nyregion/post-scandal-future-unclear-for-port-authoritys-low-profile-leader.html?_r=0 This is just beyond anybody's comprehension of corruption.

31. Thomas Michaels, Longtime Christie Friend, Involved In Traffic Scandal-Somebody had to actually be in charge of putting out the cones! Thomas Michaels, Longtime Christie Friend, Involved In Traffic Scandal: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/16/thomas-michaels-chris-christie-traffic-bridge-scandal_n_4798423.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

32. Christie ally Brian O'Toole, who somehow found his way onto the legislative committee investigating Bridgegate will likely be subject to a bit of scrutiny himself (thanks Alp227 & Roctivity) Bridge investigation committee member could face subpoena: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/02/bridge_investigation_committee_member_could_face_subpoena.html

33. Well one way to keep your underlings from turning on you is to give them lucrative jobs. Former Christie staffer under subpoena takes job with Port Authority (It only pays $184,000/yr.): http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/02/former_christie_staffer_under_subpoena_takes_job_with_port_authority.html#incart_most-comments

34. Chris Christie's lawyer for bridge scandal withdraws as Port Authority's counsel in separate lawsuit. (Conflict of interest is just business as usual for these scumba-I mean attorneys): http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/02/bridge_scandal_lawyer_for_christie_withdraws_as_port_authoritys_counsel_in_outside_lawsuit_observers.html#incart_river

35. New Port Authority conflict issue emerges: NJ Transit got $1 lease while a client of David Samson's law firm: http://www.northjersey.com/news/New_Port_Authority_conflict_issue_emerges_NJ_Transit_got_1_lease_while_a_client_of_David_Samsons_law_firm.html?page=all

36. Leader of Port Authority’s Police Union to Reduce Role Amid Bridge Scandal: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/21/nyregion/leader-of-port-authoritys-police-union-to-step-aside-amid-bridge-scandal.html?hpw&rref=nyregion&_r=0

Mmmmmmm...Baby! My Favorite.



37. Chris Christie's Mansion Fund Collected Millions From Political Favor Seekers-what a great idea! :http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/21/chris-christie-drumthwacket_n_4826459.html There's nothing to see here!

38. David Samson's business interests overlap with work at Port Authority-Ethics 101-No Conflicts of Interest! : http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/02/david_samsons_business_interests_overlap_with_work_at_port_authority.html#incart_m-rpt-1 Quod Est In Loco or How To Always Be On The Winning Side By Being On Every Side.

39. Christie Aide Joked of Traffic Jam at Rabbi’s House, Documents Show (release of more Wildstein e-mails & texts) http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/nyregion/documents-show-christie-allies-discussed-another-traffic-jam.html?hp These guys are just a bunch of jokesters!

40. No, its not just you, he's IS a horse's ass Chris Christie’s problem is that he’s really, truly a bully: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/01/08/chris-christies-problem-is-that-hes-really-truly-a-bully/ A sociopath and a bully-great combination.

41. Thank you sir, may I have another: Chris Christie’s political bullying goes all the way back to college: http://www.salon.com/2014/01/18/chris_christies_political_bullying_isnt_surprising_hes_been_doing_it_since_college_partner/ Put Niedermeier on the job-he's a sneaky little shit just like you.

42. Christie is a bully. A blustering bully! Stories Add Up as Bully Image Trails Christie (Its a shame that the guy he was abusive to was just named head of the Assembly Judiciary Committee-where impeachment proceedings start!): http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/25/nyregion/accounts-of-petty-retribution-reinforce-christies-bullying-image.html Consistency is the hobgoblin of the small mind.

43. The municipal clerk at Fort Lee Borough Hall this morning released 911 and police communication tapes from last September's lane closures at the George Washington Bridge. Bridge scandal: 911 tapes of GWB lane closures released:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/02/911_tapes_of_george_washington_bridge_lane_closures_released.html#incart_m-rpt-1 Hey, nobody dies.

44. Drip, Drip Drip..... Port Authority chairman hit with ethics complaint by NJ Working Families Alliance: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/port_authority_samson_ethics_complaint.html#incart_m-rpt-1 We'll see where this goes.

45. Good Lord! How much about Samson needs to come out before anything is done? In Job, Appointee Profits and Christie Gains Power (This is a "must read" for anyone who needs to be reminded just how rigged the game can be): http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/04/nyregion/in-job-appointee-profits-and-christie-gains-power.html?ref=nyregion Any other lawyer would have been disbarred in a heartbeat. He just gets richer.

46. Bill (Billy Baloney) Baroni lands himself a cushy job with a politically connected law firm (Hill Wallack was the model for Wolff & Samson)- Baroni lands new job with Mercer County law firm: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/baroni_lands_new_job_with_mercer_county_law_firm.html At least until the attorney ethics committee takes a good look at his testimony in front of the Bridgegate committee.

47. Here's a shocker! Christie manipulated the Port Authority for his own political benefit. (I know that most of you will find this hard to believe) Secrecy at heart of Port Authority toll-hike ploy: http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/political_stile/Stile_Secrecy_at_heart_of_Port_Authority_toll-hike_ploy.html Hey if you don't like it, run for governor yourself!

48. This guy won't be losing his pension to save Christie or any of his cronies, that's for sure! Head of Port Authority Police Union Questioned in Bridge Inquiry: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/05/nyregion/head-of-port-authority-police-union-questioned-in-bridge-inquiry.html?_r=0 We'll see how deep loyalty runs.

These Are Just Not As Much Fun As They Used To Be (well not for the governor, but for us?)



49. Hoboken mayor: Christie administration is back peddling on city's cut of Sandy aid: http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2014/03/hoboken_mayor_christie_administration_is_back_peddling_on_citys_cut_of_sandy_aid.html Upon further review, the ruling on the field is overturned.

50. SECOND Samson Fed Subpoena Rescinded-David Samson subpoenaed by federal prosecutors in N.Y but will defer to NJ U.S. Attorney's investigation: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/03/feds_rescind_subpoena_to_port_authority_chairman_samson.html#incart_river_default

51. Analysis: What's Wrong With Chris Christie's Government? Sounds like a punch line for a joke doesn't it?: This kind of sums up the root of his troubles. http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/03/11/analysis-what-s-wrong-with-chris-christie-s-government/ Let me count the ways.

52. Even Before Fort Lee Lane Closings, Port Authority Was a Christie Tool: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/11/nyregion/even-before-fort-lee-lane-closings-port-authority-was-a-christie-tool.html?_r=0 Where else do you dump your political hacks?

53. Did Christie Go Easy on a Human Trafficker Just to Bust a Small-Time Pol? This is what you get when you appoint someone who never saw the inside of a courtroom as US Attorney: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/17/did-christie-go-easy-on-a-human-trafficker-just-to-bust-a-small-time-pol.html That's just a crazy idea.

54. You really have to appreciate good performance art! Emails show Christie's ex-campaign manager thanked ex-Port official for testimony that was eventually discredited (but then again-we already knew this at DU didn't we?) Thanks Rocktivity: http://www.northjersey.com/news/emails-show-christie-s-ex-campaign-manager-thanked-ex-port-official-for-testimony-that-was-eventually-discredited-1.744676

55. Apparently being involved in political corruption continues to be a resume builder with the GOP. Bill Stepien scores job at GOP consulting firm, report says:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/bill_stepien_scores_job_at_gop_consulting_firm_report_says.html

56. Quod Est In Loco (The Fix Is In) seems to be the motto for everyone around Christie. Bombshell: How The Fix Was In On Christie's 'Stronger Than The Storm' Ad : http://www.newrepublic.com/article/117066/christies-stronger-storm-jersey-shore-post-sandy-ad-cover

57. Thanks for the memories! Christie just wanted some souvenirs of his Town Hall meetings, not trying to intimidate anybody or anything. Man snapping photos of protestors at Christie town hall says he's a state policeman!: http://www.politickernj.com/72088/plainclothes-cameraman-snaps-pictures-protesters-chris-christie-town-hall

*Update-Turns out it was indeed a state police detective photographing critics of Christie for "security" purposes". The Fuhrer would be so proud! N.J. trooper who photographed protesters at Christie event was posing as media, AG says:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/12/nj_trooper_who_photographed_protesters_at_christie_event_was_posing_as_the_media_ag_says.html#incart_m-rpt-1

58. So much for the withdrawal (#50) US Attorney in New Jersey Presses Inquiry on Christie Ally: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/nyregion/us-prosecutors-in-new-jersey-sought-port-authority-records-on-bridge-contracts.html?ref=nyregion&_r=0

59. Woof Woof! Christie continues being dogged at the town halls! Christie confronted on GWB scandal during town hall meeting - http://www.northjersey.com/news/christie-confronted-on-gwb-scandal-during-town-hall-meeting-1.746748?page=all

60. What happens when you don't distribute disaster aid to the victims? They're still living in motels 18 months after the storm! Sandy victims were living at Point Pleasant Beach motel destroyed by fire: http://www.nj.com/ocean/index.ssf/2014/03/point_pleasant_beach_motel_destroyed_by_fire_housed_hurricane_sandy_victims_after_storm.html#incart_m-rpt-1

And If You Mention Extortion Again-I'll Have Your Legs Broken!



61. Samson Resigns! But Christie Stands By Him-Christie embraces an embattled Samson, stands by 'General' amid ethics questions: http://www.northjersey.com/news/stile-christie-embraces-an-embattled-samson-stands-by-general-amid-ethics-questions-1.753709

62.Christie releases a sham of an investigative report that may contain a little more than intended-Analysis: Some evidence seems to contradict Mastro report's findings on Christie: http://www.northjersey.com/news/analysis-some-evidence-seems-to-contradict-mastro-report-s-findings-on-christie-1.753711

63. Mr. Mastro's report seems to have caused some ire with Ms. Kelly's attorney-Christie bridge scandal report is 'sexist' and Bridget Kelly 'is no liar,' her attorney says: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/bridget_kellys_attorney_accuses.html#incart_m-rpt-1

64. Trouble ahead-trouble behind! Mr. Maraziti is going to provide the evidence that Dawn Zimmer is not a liar. Hoboken to consider waiving attorney-client privilege for city lawyer in inquiries: http://www.msnbc.com/steve-kornacki/hoboken-consider-waiving-attorney-client-privilege-for-city-lawyer-christie-scandal

Update on # 64: Hoboken council says attorney can testify about Zimmer's Sandy aid allegations: http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2014/04/hoboken_council_says_city_redevelopment_attorney_can_testify_about_zimmers_sandy_aid_allegations.html

65. Mastro's report contains an interesting recommendation designed to serve Christie's political ambitions at expense of the long term health of the region. Breaking Up PA Would Solve Christie's Transportation Trust Fund Problem: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/03/31/breaking-up-port-authority-would-solve-christie-s-transportation-trust-fund-problem/

66. Let's give PNWmom some props! DING DING DING! Why would Christie try to TORPEDO the billion $ Fort Lee redevelopment-a thread ahead of its time: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251349067

67. So, this is what a can of worms looks like! How Christie's Office Used Government Employees to Win Endorsements http://www.wnyc.org/story/bridgegate-docs-christies-government-aides-sought-election-endorsements/

68. And you thought this was interesting up until now! Christie press secretary testifies before bridge scandal grand jury: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/04/in_bridge_scandal_grand_jury_investigation_is_underway_upping_the_ante.html

69.Game On! Looks like my "source" was telling the truth. En Vino Veritas! David Wildstein Meets With Prosecutors in Christie Bridge Probe. (Cue Mr. Burns-Exxxcellent) http://www.mainjustice.com/2014/04/06/david-wildstein-meets-with-prosecutors-in-christie-bridge-probe/

70. Here is a great summation of Christie's character-low as it may be. Crossing Christie- What the bridge scandal says about the Governor’s political style, and his future. A great article by Ryan Lizza in the New Yorker: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/04/14/140414fa_fact_lizza?currentPage=all

71. No tapes? No transcripts? Just what kind of an investigation was this? Much Ado About Nothing: No Tapes, Transcripts of Mastro Interviews: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/04/09/much-ado-about-nothing-no-tapes-transcripts-of-mastro-interviews/

72. NYC district attorney launches wide-ranging investigation into Port Authority-The Manhattan district attorney has launched a wide-ranging investigation into the Port Authority, issuing a subpoena for communications between Governor Christie’s office and agency officials: http://www.northjersey.com/news/nyc-district-attorney-launches-wide-ranging-investigation-into-port-authority-1.938968


AND THAT'S NOT ALL! If you call now-we'll throw in a second report absolutely free that will exonerate YOU- just fill your own name in on the cover. Just pay separate shipping & handling. But act fast-supplies are limited. All for the same low price of $7,500,000! Call 1-800-WHITEWASH



73. When you're unethical-it pays to control the ethics committee! Former watchdogs accuse Christie of interfering with state ethics agency: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/04/former_watchdogs_accuse_christie_of_interfering_with_state_ethics_agency.html#incart_m-rpt-1

74. Want some Sandy aid for your town? All you've got to do is PLAY BALL! Playing Ball With Chris Christie: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/04/10/playing-ball-with-chris-christie

75. I'll take Rhetorical Questions for 600 Alex. Did Christie Aides Cover Up Bridgegate? http://bit.ly/1jBzZk8

76. Here's one we've known here all along-it was just confirmed in the interviews. Christie's office gave less attention to mayors who didn't support governor, official said http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/04/christies_office_gave_less_attention_to_mayors_who_didnt_support_governor_official_said.html#incart_m-rpt-1.

77. Now that the interview memos are released this evaluation of the report seems even more on target. A Jilted Lover, a 'Crazy' Man and Diane Sawyer: What Christie Crisis Management Looks Like : http://www.wnyc.org/story/what-crisis-management-looks-jilted-lover-crazy-man-and-diane-sawyer/

78. Can you say kick-back? Sure you can. Take a million in tax payer funds, give $10,000 of it right back as a "commission" to the Republican Governor's Association headed by the guy who hired you! Firm hired for probe is GOP donor; $10,000 disclosed as Christie backs unlimited contributions: http://www.northjersey.com/news/firm-hired-for-probe-is-gop-donor-10-000-disclosed-as-christie-backs-unlimited-contributions-1.996692

79. Pride Goeth Before A Fall-Like any good conman, Christie thought he could talk his way out of this mess-apparently not- Christie’s Mastro Mistake: Report Backfires Politically, Legally: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/04/16/christie-s-mastro-mistake-report-backfires-politically-legally/

80. Gems from the Mastro report. They don't have scandals! He Said, She Said: Quotable Moments From The Bridgegate Interviews: http://bit.ly/1t7e898

81. Apparently the SEC isn't as down with Christie's budget gimmicks and slight of hand as the Port Authority under Samson was. SEC probing New Jersey Governor Christie's transport funding: report:http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/25/us-usa-new-jersey-sec-idUSBREA3O25I20140425

82. The Man Who Would Be King! NJ debt downgraded for fifth time under Christie-Nice job Mr. Fiscal Conservative: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/05/nj_debt_downgraded_for_fifth_time_under_christie.html#incart_m-rpt-1

83. And Christie wanted to put THIS guy on the NJ Supreme Court! Port Authority lawyer called before grand jury in federal GWB inquiry- Come in and have a seat Mr. Kwon: http://www.northjersey.com/news/port-authority-lawyer-called-before-grand-jury-in-federal-gwb-inquiry-1.1007092

84. Aaaannd Samson Takes the 5th!-GWB scandal: Samson says he will not turn over any more documents to legislative panel : http://www.northjersey.com/news/gwb-scandal-samson-says-he-will-not-turn-over-any-more-documents-to-legislative-panel-1.1008126

Oh, The Huge Manatee! It's not like New Jersey hasn't seen something like THIS before. To quote the governor: "there's something going down tonight and it ain't jobs honey" If you're going to go down-it might as well be in flames!



85. It's all over now baby blue! -Prosecutor Is Closing In on Gov. Christie Seems Mr. Fishman has been hard at work!: http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/christie-investigation?click=promo

86. The Manhattan district attorney and the Securities and Exchange Commission...have zeroed in on possible securities law violations stemming from a $1.8 billion road repair agreement in 2011...(for) the Pulaski Skyway. 2nd Bridge Inquiry Said to Be Linked to Christie : http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/24/nyregion/2nd-bridge-inquiry-said-to-be-linked-to-christie.html?_r=0

87. Investigating the actions of Christie is apparently bad for your health. Port Authority inspector general dies at age 70http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/07/port_authority_inspector_general_dies_at_age_70.html

88. The Red Cross & Mary Pat Christie's spending on Sandy are apparently not suitable for public scrutiny- Red Cross: How We Spent Sandy Money Is a "Trade Secret" : http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/24506-focus-red-cross-how-we-spent-sandy-money-is-a-qtrade-secretq

89. Rest assured. All of the facts will come out. They're thinking about reform-which is so much more important than actually doing something! Cuomo-Christie Port reform group resolves to consider reform:http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/07/8548428/cuomo-christie-port-reform-group-resolves-consider-reform?top-featured-1

90. Its good to be friends with the governor! Port Authority was pressed by Christie administration to hire governor's former law firm, sources say: http://www.northjersey.com/news/port-authority-was-pressed-by-christie-administration-to-hire-governor-s-former-law-firm-sources-say-1.1047687

91. He's just a "stand-up" guy, isn't he? Chris Christie defends gun bill veto, declining to meet with Sandy Hook parents: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/07/chris_christie_defends_gun_bill_veto_declining_to_meet_with_sandy_hook_parents.html#incart_river

92. The Sandy Recover Czar is jumping ship. Marc, we hardly knew ya! Christie Hurricane Sandy 'storm czar' Marc Ferzan to resign:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/07/christies_storm_czar_mark_ferzan_to_resign.html

93. The American Dream Mall (formerly Xanadu) highlights the incestuous relationship between Christie, Samson and Lori Grifa, the Wolff & Samson lawyer/lobbyist who has played all sides of this project. Listen to Chris Christie and the American Dream Megamall https://www.wnyc.org/radio/#/ondemand/385992

94. Even a mouse knows what a liar Christie is! Chris Christie's bridge fiction: the Pulaski Skyway-Lincoln Tunnel claim debunked (Ledger Live video): http://www.nj.com/ledgerlive/index.ssf/2014/06/chris_christies_bridge_fiction_the_pulaski_skyway-lincoln_tunnel_claim_debunked_ledger_live_video.html#incart_river_default

95. Christie does a movie trailer! Christie posts then removes YouTube video mixing Hollywood with pension reform. But, thanks to Roctivity, we have a live link to this epic! Why did he take it down? Did The Rock threaten him?:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/07/christie_spoofs_the_movies_to_tease_new_plans_for_pension_system.html (see reply # 235 for the video link)

96. Will item #100 announce indictments? I don't know, but this sounds ominous! Bridgegate Committee Can't Call Any More Major Witnesses I'm pretty sure its not because of their concern over the preemption of children's programing on NJTV: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/07/15/bridgegate-committee-can-t-call-any-more-major-witnesses

Avert Your Eyes! Christie May Have Been Dancing... But Apparently Others Have Been Singing!



97. THIS should make any thinking person sick to their stomach-NJ Gov. Chris Christie's pension moves cost taxpayers and retirees billions $4 billion would have taken care of the pension shortfall! But NO-it's the public employees fault-disgusting.: http://www.ibtimes.com/gov-christie-shifted-pension-cash-wall-street-costing-new-jersey-taxpayers-38-billion-1667622

Follow up: When you look up the word disingenuous there should be a picture (granted taking up most of the page) of Christie: Christie Argues His Own Pension Law Is Unconstitutional: http://project.wnyc.org/christie/#latest-398752

*And yet another update! Chris Christie's Political Confidant And New Jersey Pension Overseer Resigns: http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christies-political-confidant-new-jersey-pension-overseer-resigns-1726340 I guess the heat was on. He resigns for "family health reasons". Rocktivity has the line of day- "...the thought of being indicted made him sick" !

98. Why govern when using your office to raise campaign cash is so much more lucrative! Inside Chris Christie's Permanent Campaign: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/08/25/inside-chris-christie-s-permanent-campaign

99. You'll get nothing and like it! Commuters stuck because of tunnel constraints figure out that Christie nixed the additional tracks into NYC. Our idiot governor decides to argue with them on Twitter! Christie Tweet-Fights With NJ Transit Commuters: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/08/14/christie-tweet-fights-with-nj-transit-commuters#

100. I was hoping # 100 would announce indictments but-we'll give it to Charles Pierce for a Crime Digest worthy summary of Christie's hypocrisy and failings- The Passion Of Big Chicken, The Fleecing : http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/Big_Chicken_Loses_Big

Can you take this thing through the drive-thru at McDonald's on the way back to the State House?


101. Now let me get this straight-out of all of your text messages, this is the one you deleted? Regina Egea's phone records subpoenaed to discover missing text to Christie. N.J. legislative panel to subpoena phone and email records between Chris Christie and Regina Egea : http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/08/29/1325647/-N-J-legislative-panel-to-subpoena-phone-and-email-records-between-Chris-Christie-and-Regina-Egea

*I know Regina that you folks in Harding Twp. believe that you're above the law and all but always remember...oh what a tangled web we weave...WNYC's Andrea Bernstein took the time to match testimony, evidence and texts and found that Regina and the Governor may not have been, how should I put it, candid, with the legislative committee. Read about it here: http://bit.ly/1u7YNTN

102. The Port Authority cops knew something was amiss and were told to shut up about it. Port Authority cops told to 'shut up' about GWB lane closures, memo says : http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/09/port_authority_cops_told_to_shut_up_about_gwb_lane_closures_memo_says.html#incart_m-rpt-1

Plus-for those interested in source materials, read the memo here: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1283440-papd-document.html

103. Christie Crime Digest put to shame! The Bergen Record has assembled a very compelling and visually appealing dossier on all things Bridgegate. A very nice compilation of materials for anyone looking for a way to make sense of this. The GWB Files: Christie and The World's Busiest Bridge: http://www.northjersey.com/news/the-gwb-files-christie-and-the-lane-closures-at-the-world-s-busiest-bridge-1.1080372

104. Christie and his family on the beach didn't just violate good taste-those ads also violated Federal procurement rules for Sandy money. Remember, Quod est in Loco! (For those who are new to this, that's Latin for "the fix is in" the Christie Administration Motto! 'Stronger Than the Storm': Federal audit finds N.J. did not fully comply with procurement rules: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/09/stronger_than_the_storm_audit.html

105. Let's see, high unemployment-check, higher property taxes-check, state's bond rating lowered-AGAIN-check- Fitch downgrades N.J. debt, saying Christie is repudiating his pension reform:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/09/fitch_downgrades_nj_debt_saying_christie_is_repudiating_his_pension_reform.html#incart_m-rpt-1

106. No money for pensions. No money for infrastructure. No money for schools. But we do have hundreds of millions for a casino-that failed: Chris Christie loses a big Atlantic City bet, posing another challenge for 2016 run-http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/chris-christie-loses-a-big-atlantic-city-bet-posting-another-challenge-for-2016-run/2014/09/05/d7471a7a-33b0-11e4-8f02-03c644b2d7d0_story.html

107. She don't know nuthin' 'bout nuthin'-Guadagno office subpoenaed on 'Hoboken issues' -Apparently this happened back in July- its funny how it all seemed to be very quiet over the summer :http://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-state-news/guadagno-office-subpoenaed-on-hoboken-issues-1.1081619

108. Hey Putin! I got Ukraine, right here I got it! A frightening take on Christie's potential approach to foreign policy from The New Republic ( I know, I saw Shattered Glass too) Chris Christie Wants to Arm Wrestle Vladimir Putin, Basically: http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119291/chris-christie-vladimir-putin-gaffe

Bridget, do you think that pizza place on the boardwalk is still open? And by the way, did you take care of that THING in Fort Lee yet? You know that THING?



109. Oh and by the way, today is Chris Christie's birthday and the Cake Boss wants to raise some money for the blowhard. NJ GOP gets fundraising solicitation from Cake Boss for Christie's birthday cake Let's make sure to send him some DU birthday best wishes!: http://www.politickernj.com/80496/nj-gop-gets-fundraising-solicitation-cake-boss-christies-birthday-cake

*Perhaps a little Karma in action? 'Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro arrested on DWI charges, report says: http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2014/11/cake_boss_buddy_valastro_arrested_on_dwi_charges_report_says.html Maybe Christie can bake him a cake. Just put a file in it!

110. I'll bet that Christie is touched that she remembered! Debbie Wasserman Schultz visited our fair state to commemorate the one year anniversary of the GWB lane closures. Debbie Wasserman Schultz rips Chris Christie over Bridgegate :http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/debbie-wasserman-schultz-bridgegate-chris-christie-110701.html

111. Just what DOES Billy Baloney Baroni know and who is the *%&$er he was being urged to "turn in" ? GWB probe: New email exchange raises more questions : http://www.northjersey.com/news/gwb-probe-new-email-exchange-raises-more-questions-1.1083499

112. Well Mr. Christie, we've established what kind of person you are, now we're just negotiating price. And I guess a $130,000 contribution to the RGA gets you something these days. Stile: Christie’s smoking-ban veto is noticed beyond N.J.: http://www.northjersey.com/news/stile-christie-s-smoking-ban-veto-is-noticed-beyond-n-j-1.1086413

113. When Christie said NJ was "open for business" most people didn't think that meant everything was for sale. Apparently that is what he meant: N.J. sells controversial pension investment in fund tied to Massachusetts Republican candidate, report says: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/09/nj_sells_controversial_pension_investment_in_firm_tied_to_massachusetts_republican_candidate_report.html#incart_m-rpt-1

114. After generations of industry trashed the Passaic River, finally millions of dollars have been secured to clean it up. BUT...Christie uses the money to fill his budget holes instead.$190M settlement in pollution suit would end decade-long legal fight over Passaic River : http://www.northjersey.com/news/190m-settlement-in-pollution-suit-would-end-decade-long-legal-fight-over-passaic-river-1.1088416

115. The poor governor is tired! Come on fellows-eight months is enough. Christie Says He’s ‘Growing Tired’ of Bridge Investigation: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-18/christie-says-he-s-growing-tired-of-n-j-bridge-investigation.html

and a related update to #115: How The Media (Briefly) Exonerated Christie Oh, and Christie says he always tells the truth, except of course when he isn't. Read Matt Katz' coverage here: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/09/24/how-the-media-briefly-exonerated-christie# What remarkable coincidences. Here's 115 items (and counting) that tend to prove Christie is corrupt. All Brian Williams needed was one "anonymous source" to declare him innocent! Could something possibly be wrong here?

116. I should have posted this a while ago but I didn't read Mr. Manzo's book until I had a couple of days on the beach last month. It confirms everything we've been saying here and more. Ruthless Ambition: The Rise and Fall of Chris Christie : http://www.ruthlessambitionthebook.com/ He comes right out and calls Christie what he is-a sociopath.

117. Oh, I completely forgot about this one. The "Race to the Top" grant fiasco that let him throw Brett Schundler (one of the only non-U.S. Attorneys in his administration) under the bus Error on 'Race to the Top' application costs N.J. $400M in federal funds :http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/08/error_on_race_to_the_top_appli.html

and again for those who like original materials, read Brett Schundler's recount of the circumstances that Christie brazenly lied about (what else would you expect from a sociopath) here: http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/other/DOETermination-ChronologyofEvents.pdf

118. Chris Christie IS a sociopath! All the signs point to it. Charismatic, lying, prone to angry outbursts, no empathy, ultra-ambitious, will do anything to win-not just once, but over and over again his behavior confirms it. The Sociopathy of Chris Christie http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Sociopathy-of-Chris-Ch-by-Barry-Sussman-Chris-Christie_Chris-Christie_Prosecution_Scandal-140208-879.html

119. Hello! They're getting the band back together! Samson, Griffa, Inglisino, Triple Five, Sheldon Adelson-They've all got a part in this-With pig farms gone, Sheldon Adelson mulls a casino in Meadowlands http://www.northjersey.com/news/with-pig-farms-gone-sheldon-adelson-mulls-a-casino-in-meadowlands-1.1101173

update: That's Sheldon (I gave $1 million to the RGA for Christie) Adelson in case you think there might be some kind of Quid Pro Quo-nah!:A bad bet: GOP Governors Assn. crossed state law with donation:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20140610_A_bad_bet__GOP_Governors_Assn__crossed_state_law_with_donation.html (Thank you Beach Rat)

120. Here's some more evidence of the lack of the Governor's character. "Why would anybody with a functioning brain believe this guy?" Christie told a crowd gathered at a transportation summit last May. "How often do you have to be wrong to finally be dismissed?". Hopefully those words come back to haunt him when people start taking his advice. That's Christie ripping into the non-partisan Chief Budget Officer when he dared to disagree with Christie. Guess who turned out to be right-again.Christie's 'Dr. Kevorkian' was dead-on with budget prediction:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/05/christies_dr_kevorkian_was_dea.html#incart_m-rpt-1

Isn't my husband a funny guy?




121. An update to #24-but deserving of an entry of its own. Christie aide discussed pipeline with husband, a top exec at firm behind project, emails show : http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/10/christie_aide_discussed_pipeline_with_husband_a_top_exec_at_firm_behind_project_emails_show.html#incart_story_package Turns out Renna & her hubby did discuss the Pipeline project-VIA OFFICIAL E-MAIL-and the Christie administration tried to hide that fact.

again-for those who like source documents, the Court's decision can be downloaded & read here:https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1310851/judge-jacobsen-ruling-on-opra-on-pinelands.pdf

also: don't lose this link to the memory hole-http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024442535#op that details the sordid connections and money trail from the pipeline's supporters.

122. This is as much about Massachusetts as it is about New Jersey-Chris Christie Blocks Release Of Pay-To-Play Probe Of Charlie Baker, Massachusetts GOP Nominee:http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-blocks-release-pay-play-probe-charlie-baker-massachusetts-gop-nominee-1708016 Oh, they'll release the records-2 days after the election!

123. The good governor worships at the "Church of Koch". If they say compromise a globally significant environmentally sensitive region so they can make a few more bucks, he does it! Only this time somebody stood up to him. Gov. Christie earned the Pinelands pipeline defeat: Editorial http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/10/gov_christie_earned_the_pinelands_pipeline_defeat_editorial.html

124. Now THIS is real leadership! Let's use a nurse who volunteers to put her life on the line with Doctors Without Borders as a political prop. Chris Christie's Quarantine Quagmire Is Over (for now) http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/10/27/chris-christie-s-quarantine-quagmire-is-over-for-now.

125. Having thoroughly bungled (and bungled is a polite and kind characterization of the job he's done) Sandy recovery, Christie lashes out at anyone who dares to question him publicly. Christie to Sandy heckler: 'Sit down and shut up!' http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/10/christie_lashes_out_at_hecklers_democratic_nj_senators_for_delays_on_sandy_aid.html

126. Just in case you haven't figured it out by now, being friendly with the RGA under Christie is extremely good for business.Chris Christie's N.J. friends got contracts from Republican group he chaired, records show :http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/11/chris_christies_nj_friends_got_contracts_from_republican_governors_association_he_chaired_records_sh.html#incart_m-rpt-2

127. What kind of unholy deal did Christie, Norcross & Sweeney dream up here? Christie’s Chief of Staff Quits for a Hospital Job: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/15/nyregion/christies-chief-of-staff-quits-for-a-hospital-job.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region Gee Kevin, what exactly are your qualifications for this job?

*Just a side note on this-Where have we seen something like this before? Oh yeah, entry #121! High-Profile Couple Will Have to Tiptoe Through Ethical Minefield: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/11/17/high-profile-couple-will-have-to-tiptoe-through-ethical-minefield/ Honey, what did you do at work today? Nobody from the Christie administration tip toes anywhere! I'm sure they don't even see a conflict in having Mr. & Mrs. Fox in charge of the chickens.

128. This is not really a new entry per se but for your reading enjoyment and to assist you with keeping up with the good governor of the Garden State (now how's THAT for alliteration?) here are some links to others that are accumulating information on Christie:

- An entertaining Facebook page-Chris Christie-Indict, Impeach, Imprison :https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chris-Christie-Indict-Impeach-and-Imprison/277230469095651 (go give it a couple of likes!)

-The Christie Tracker- A project of WNYC in New York: http://project.wnyc.org/christie/

-The Christie Watcher at The Daily Kos: http://www.dailykos.com/blog/Christie%20Watch/

-The GWB Files- A multi-media extravaganza put together by the Bergen Record home of Sean Bober whose reporting gave this story legs: http://www.northjersey.com/news/the-gwb-files-christie-and-the-lane-closures-at-the-world-s-busiest-bridge-1.1080372

-The Chis Christie page on the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/chris-christie/

There are other reporters that are keeping after Christie like David Sirota and Ryan Lizza. The pressure just needs to be dialed up and something will give. There is just too much "there" there.

129. Here's one related to #97 and the looting of the public pension funds for the benefit of Christie's cronies-State takes $300 million pension gamble on Revel Casino owner : http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/money/business/2014/03/15/state-takes-300-million-pension-gamble-on-revel-casino-owner/6472093/ Public employees lose- FOC'ers (Friends of Chris) get rich-again!

* and I know that there are people out there who like original documents-check out the letter threatening David Sirota for writing about Chatham Asset Management's questionable investments of public pension monies here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/219802809/Anthony-Melchiorre-and-Chatham-Asset-Management-Legal-Letter

130. And yet another chapter in the ongoing story-Chris Christie-Bold Leader, Stand-up Guy-Chris Christie will have no opinion on immigration until he runs for president: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/11/20/1346186/-Chris-Christie-will-have-no-opinion-immigration-until-he-runs-for-nbsp-president -When last we left our hero he was ducking questions from Sandy victims and parents of kids killed in Newtown, CT

131. Christie is nothing if not consistent. Consistently an ass, but consistent. You'd think he learned after the dust up over his travel expenses when he was U.S. Attorney (Item # 9), but Nooooooo. State Secrets: Why Won’t Gov. Christie Disclose His Travel Expenses?: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/11/30/state-secrets-why-won-t-gov-christie-disclose-his-travel-expenses/ I'm sure the food tastes so much better and the pillow is so much softer when its on the taxpayer's dime.

132. And another chapter in the ongoing story- Chris Christie-Financial Genius- One of his "bold" moves has cost the state millions. Who would have guessed? Lawmaker calls for N.J. lottery review after revenue falls short :http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/11/lawmaker_calls_for_nj_lottery_review_after_revenue_falls_short.html I wonder how much money Northstar (or any of its key employees) donated to the RGA. (Thanks Rocktivity)

* Interesting update. Its a Festivus Miracle! G-Tech got the contract to run the lottery privately after giving the Republican Governor's Association over $275,000 and hiring-get ready for it-our old friends Wolff & Samson to be their lobbyists! They turned out to be the ONLY bidders for the work. Hey, you get what you pay for! http://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/investigations/2014/12/05/nj-lottery-vendors-connection-chris-christie/19948237/ I got that one with no studying!

**It took a while but the Star-Ledger finally caught up with the Crime Digest and figured out the sordid connections that are costing the state money. Late is better than not at all. Gov. Chris Christie's gamble on privatizing N.J. lottery comes up a bust: http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/04/editorial_gov_chris_christie_privatizing_nj_lotter.html David Sampson & Mike DuHaime strike again!


That's a good one David! And by the way-if anyone asks- I don't know you



133. Being a Democrat who endorsed Christie has its perks! (Just like donating to the RGA) High profile Democratic FOC'er (Friend of Chris) Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo found out! No evidence that N.J. state job held by DiVincenzo's son was publicly advertised : http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/11/nj_state_job_won_by_essex_county_executive_joe_divincenzos_son_was_never_publicly_advertised.html Out of 8 1/2 million people in the state, he was clearly the most qualified! (thanks Rocktivity)

134. This is an oldie but a goodie. Christie uses the State Police helicopter to catch one of his kid's high school baseball games. Gov. Chris Christie's 'CopterGate': Uses State Police Helicopter To See His Son Play High-school Baseball: http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/gov-chris-christies-coptergate-uses-sta Can I borrow it to get to one of my son's games? (After all me and about 8 million other people did help pay for it!) It's good to be the king.

135. Yes Master, whatever you say. Christie goes to Canada to support the Keystone XL on behalf of his puppet masters the Kochs. Stile: Supporting Keystone XL pipeline is safe for Christie http://www.northjersey.com/news/stile-supporting-keystone-xl-pipeline-is-safe-for-christie-1.1145535 Meanwhile he hasn't said a word about the pipelines tearing up his home state.

136. Another non exoneration exoneration. Don't just read the headlines, look at the substance of the report: Christie bridge scandal: Excerpts of legislative committee's new report: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/12/christie_bridge_scandal_excerpts_of_legislative_committees_new_report.html#incart_river This is far from a report clearing him-in fact it makes him look very bad.

*Here you go sports fans! First the link to the interim legislative report: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/reports/interim_report.pdf another link to the actual documents obtained via subpoena: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/Subpoena_Production_Exhibits and separate exhibits:http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/Additional_Exhibits

** and a link to the excellent story and timeline done by Andrea Bernstein at WNYC who did the hard work of going through the report and matching statements with known facts. read it here: http://bit.ly/1u7YNTN Somebody's lying and that's the truth!

137. Oh Oh Domino! (Sorry Van) Could this just be the beginning of the fun? Potential Indictments in George Washington Bridge Probe May Be Handed Down in January: Sources: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/George-Washington-Bridge-Traffic-Jam-Fort-Lee-Chris-Christie-New-Jersey-Indictment-Port-Authority-284905201.html I'm sure nothing loosens the lips of recalcitrant witnesses like an indictment.

138. Missed it by that much. A nod to Maxwell Smart and props to Rocktivity, Christie the financial genius strikes again! Christie administration's pension liability estimate doubles under new rules: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/12/christie_administration_quietly_doubles_pension_liability_estimate.html Just imagine what he can do for the country.

139. In this week's installment of Chris Christie-Economic Genius we find our hero working hard on tanking the state's economy Job surge skipping New Jersey so far :http://www.northjersey.com/news/job-surge-skipping-new-jersey-so-far-1.1147574 Make sure to tune in next week when Christie invests the state pension funds with a former Nigerian dictator who sent him an e-mail promising to quadruple the current returns on the money! If only you send me the amount of $1,000,000 USD by money order the honorable Bank of Lagos will issue to you a check in the sum of $23,000,000 for your kind assistance.

140. Here's something important to remember before it all goes crazy. Why Dawn Zimmer Is Telling The Truth: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024364984 This goes all the way back to the beginning of this mess and is really the heart of how Christie and his cronies operate.

141. Will Christie tout this as one of his accomplishments? N.J. among worst run states in nation, study finds:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/12/nj_among_worst_run_states_in_nation_study_finds.html Words cannot express how proud I am at this moment!

142. The best defense is a good offense-Former Port Authority chairman Samson tries to head off ethics probe:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/12/former_port_authority_chairman_samson_tries_to_head_off_ethics_probe.html#incart_river You can't investigate me-don't you know who I am?

*Well never mind then...Former Port Authority chairman David Samson withdraws suit seeking to block ethics inquiry: http://www.northjersey.com/news/former-port-authority-chairman-david-samson-withdraws-suit-seeking-to-block-ethics-inquiry-1.1181934 Could it be because the fix is already in with the Christie dominated ethics panel? Quod Est In Loco!

143. Now this sounds kind of specific, doesn't it? Bridge Scandal Prosecutors May Use Fraud Law to Charge Christie Associates
: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/12/nyregion/in-george-washington-bridge-case-prosecutors-could-use-fraud-statute-to-charge-christie-associates.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region%AEion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=1 Baby its cold outside, but its heating up down on Walnut Street! (via yortsed snacilbuper)

144. Falkner, Hemmingway, Fitzgerald, .....Christie? Deal would let Christie profit from writing book, boost N.J. legislative staff salaries: Read the story here. Oh Brother! I'm sure everyone on the beach will be reading this epic tome next summer. I wonder what the title will be? Make sure you get in line for the book signing now!

Allright! I did it. I'm the one who ordered the cones put out. Because the Governor TOLD me to!


145. New Jersey, Illinois and Kansas walk into a bar together.....Kansas Governor Proposes Using Pension Money to Cover Budget Gaps Created By His Tax Cuts :http://www.ibtimes.com/kansas-governor-proposes-using-pension-money-cover-budget-gaps-created-his-tax-cuts-1753626 They all used cuts in pension contributions to cover corporate and wealthy individual tax giveaways and they all have had their bond ratings significantly downgraded, and oh yeah, they all lag the nation in job growth. That's not a very funny punchline is it?

146.The sooner we can put Christie in the rear view mirror, the sooner we can concentrate on why whatever other clown the Republicans put up shouldn't be President. I'm not sure yet but somebody else is convinced that Christie is toast-Five reasons Christie will never be president:http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/12/five_reasons_christie_will_never_be_president_moran.html Only 5? We've got like 145 right here!

147. How deep is the bubbling cesspool of New Jersey's pension fund mangement under Christie? New Jersey Paid Fees To Mary Pat Christie's Firm After State Investment Was Terminated :http://www.ibtimes.com/new-jersey-paid-fees-mary-pat-christies-firm-after-state-investment-was-terminated-1760682 $475,000/year for Mary Pat for a part-time job? No wonder she has that stupid grin on her face! This smells worse than.....let's see, the Bayway Refinery on a hot and humid August night.

148. A critique of Christie's performance art. Getting Chris Christie’s goat: Activists try to rile up governor, pile up some YouTube hits http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/getting-chris-christies-goat-activists-try-to-rile-up-governor-pile-up-some-youtube-hits/2014/12/20/c1f4c29e-865d-11e4-9534-f79a23c40e6c_story.html?wprss=rss_politics The Washington Post has actually broken the "Christie Tirade" down into three distinct steps. Master these steps and perhaps you too can learn to be a bully.

*Make sure to check out his 14 "greatest hits" here: How to get Chris Christie fired up: http://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/fired-up-christie/ He's not really a tough guy but he does play one on T.V.! What a coward!

149. Christie & Cuomo team up to bury reform of the Port Authority cesspool- They'll have all of the commissioners they appointed resign! That'll do it. Cuomo and Christie, Defying Legislatures, Reject Bill to Overhaul Port Authority:http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/28/nyregion/cuomo-and-christie-announce-they-will-veto-bill-to-overhaul-port-authority.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region%C2%AEion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0 Nothing to see here. Move along. (Look back to Vol I, Item #89)

150. Why was Chris Christie and his family flown to Dallas on Jerry Jones' private jet? Why was he in the owner's box for the Dallas-Detroit playoff game? Because he was a Dallas fan? I think not-Chris Christie Pushed Port Authority To Give Contract To Jerry Jones' Firm http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-pushed-port-authority-give-contract-jerry-jones-firm-1774154 Nothing to see here folks (again), just move along. Disgusting! (And wasn't it just a little uncomfortable to watch him try to jump up and down when Dallas scored?) Gravity is a bitch.

*I estimated the cost of the trip to Dallas at around $20,000. Boy was I wrong! It would cost between $125,000 and $150,000!

151. Well, just when you may have thought Mr. Fishman was a slacker, the plot thickens! Christie's records of canceled meetings with Jersey City mayor are subpoenaed: report: http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2015/01/christies_records_of_cancelled_meetings_with_jersey_city_mayor_are_subpoenaed.html I wonder what we'll find here?

152. It's one year since the infamous "time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee" e-mail was made public. It's been an interesting year-A Year After 'Traffic Problems' Email, Bridgegate in 18 Stories:http://project.wnyc.org/christie/#latest-424283 A mini Christie Crime Digest!

153. Very Interesting! It seems that the U.S. Attorney has taken an interest in the conjured testimony of Billy Baloney-U.S. attorney subpoenas Baroni testimony in Christie bridge scandal probe:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/01/us_attorney_subpoenas_for_documents_in_christie_bridge_scandal_probe.html#incart_m-rpt-1 Too bad it wasn't under oath or it would be a slam dunk perjury case. As it is, he should have some interesting correspondence with the Office of Attorney Ethics in his future. I see a state's witness here. Perhaps we'll find the answer to item # 111.

154. Oh Baby! We're heading for Volume III. The IB Times is all over Christie. Before Bridgegate, Chris Christie Used Port Authority As Political Weapon : http://www.ibtimes.com/bridgegate-chris-christie-used-port-authority-political-weapon-1778062 Christie & Baroni are quite an act.

155. As my grandfather used to say-A leopard doesn't change his spots-and apparently neither does an arrogant ass-hole(sorry for the language) Harkening back to Volume I, item #9, he continues to have a blind spot about his travel expenses: Chris Christie's Dallas trip leaves unanswered questions, but not as much as gov's other travel: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/01/chris_christies_dallas_trip_isnt_only_one_with_unanswered_questions_about_cost.html?ath=80e8422d48902dc82ad87f5e39457178 He just seems to think he's above it all.

*A bit of a victory here: Court orders Gov. Christie to reveal air travel records, not hotel bills: http://watchdog.org/179348/christie-travel-records-3/ and check out the $7800 bill for a New Orleans hotel during the Super Bowl-the Cowboys weren't even playing!- http://watchdog.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2014/10/New-Orleans-hotel-bill.pdf

156. It's not quite the Christie Crime Digest and the title is a bit pretentious but....check out Everything you need to know about Chris Christie's scandals: http://www.vox.com/cards/chris-christie-scandals-explained/who-is-chris-christie It's ok. And it has pictures!

Next I'm Going to do a bunny-See! What's the matter, don't you believe me?



157. How did we miss this? Chris Christie's Entire Career Reeks It's not just the bridge : http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116601/chris-christies-rise-and-fall Now here is someone who has done their research.

158. I wonder if he gave them his famous recipe for mashed potatoes? Chris Christie Was Interrogated By Feds Over Bridge Scandal: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/exclusive-chris-christie-interrogated-feds-bridge-scandal/story?id=28117826 Very interesting that Josh Margolin was the one to break this story.

159. Christie could make it to the Cowboys game, but not to a young police officer's funeral-hum: Kelly: Christie's missed opportunity:http://www.northjersey.com/news/kelly-christie-s-missed-opportunity-1.1190593 Good to know he's got his priorities in line.

160. Christie and the Cowboys-and the Port Authority-Perfect together! Cowboys Great Roger Staubach Donated to Christie Months Before Landing PA Contract:http://politickernj.com/2015/01/cowboys-great-roger-staubach-donated-to-christie-months-before-landing-pa-contract/ Apparently nothing is out of bounds for Christie when it comes to his favorite team.

161. Christie's protection racket-Big Ticket: Costs to Protect Christie During Travels Up 1,800% Since He Took Office: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/01/12/big-ticket-costs-to-protect-gov-christie-during-travels-rise-1-800-percent/# So glad he can self-promote on the taxpayer's dime.

162. What was Christie really doing in Dallas? EXCLUSIVE: Chris Christie Lands a Key Texas Bundler for Prez Run: http://observer.com/2015/01/exclusive-chris-christie-lands-a-key-texas-bundler-for-prez-run/ He must really be pretty confident that he's going to skate.

163. Chris Christie's legacy? Chris Christie’s Jersey nightmare: Why his state hasn’t touched the economic recovery: http://www.salon.com/2015/01/13/chris_christies_jersey_nightmare_why_his_state_hasnt_touched_the_economic_recovery/ Imagine what he could do for the country!

164. Christie is doing his damnedest to make sure the state has no future-How Long Can New Jersey's Drinking-Water Supplies Hold Out? : http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/01/12/how-long-can-new-jersey-s-drinking-water-supplies-hold-out/ That's not as important a question to answer as who can be his next big ticket donor is it?

165. Christie's State of the State address was a very nice campaign speech but a little short on the truth (anyone surprised?) What Christie Said: Fact Checking the Governor’s State of the State :http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/01/14/what-christie-said-fact-checking-the-governor-s-state-of-the-state/ He should have started the speech with "a long time ago in a galaxy far away".

*And a pretty good critique of his bloviating, self-serving, and misleading State of the Stump speech-Christie’s National Aspirations Underlie State Speech: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/14/nyregion/chris-christie-state-of-the-state-speech-new-jersey.html?ref=nyregion&target=comments&_r=0#commentsContainer Hey rest of the country-don't believe a word this guy says!

** He conveniently left out any mention of Sandy recovery too. Christie's telling silence on Sandy: Editorial: http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/01/christies_telling_silence_on_sandy_editorial.html#incart_river Tell this story on the campaign trail you miserable piece of garbage.

166. Maybe This Means Something....and maybe it doesn't, but.....it sure looks like fixer-in-chief Lori Grifa is bailing from her long-term relationship with Wolff & Sampson for a similar position putting the fixes in with another law firm. Ex-Christie commissioner joins lobbying firm that recently employed current commissioner: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/01/former_christie_cabinet_member_becomes_lobbyist_th.html#incart_river Grifa, who will be a director at Archer Public Affairs and a partner in the firm's law practice, comes on board just months after a previous lobbying director, Richard Mroz, was tapped by Christie to be president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. The door revolves.

167. He is so fond of living the high life on other people's dime! Here's hoping that there are some taxpayer funded "non-luxury" accommodations in his future: In Christie’s Career, a Fondness for Luxe Benefits When Others Pay the Bills:http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/03/nyregion/in-christies-career-a-fondness-forluxe-benefits-when-others-pay-the-bills.html?rref=nyregion&module=Ribbon&version=origin®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=New%20York&pgtype=article The pillow is so much softer when someone else is paying for it.

168. It's a miracle! Everybody he meets becomes his friend-even after just one day. (at least people who give him expensive gifts) Exhibit 1-The Christie Crime Digest! Ethics watchdog group files complaint against Christie : http://www.northjersey.com/news/ethics-watchdog-group-files-complaint-against-christie-1.1265381 It's a trick question! Christie has no ethics.

169. As Roctivity has pointed out-it all comes full circle-Crime Digest Item #1 hits the news again-this time with a bit more splash: Feds talk to ex-N.J. prosecutor who claims Christie had allies' charges dropped: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/02/feds_interview_ex-nj_prosecutor_who_claims_christi.html#incart_river Hopefully some vindication is headed Ben Barlyn's way. A very brave man who stood up for what is right.

* And just to note-its cost the taxpayers of NJ over 1/2 Million dollars to defend Christie against Mr. Barlyn's lawsuit-more money for his crony law firms (this time Bill Pallatuci's firm-he's the guy who created this monster in the first place) NJ Paid Law Firm Of Chris Christie's Top Adviser To Defend Christie In Whistleblower Suit : http://www.ibtimes.com/nj-paid-law-firm-chris-christies-top-adviser-defend-christie-whistleblower-suit-1807346 Take him down Ben Barlyn!

** A little trip down memory lane to the day when then U.S. Attorney Christie stepped in on behalf of his good buddy George Norcross- Ex-Prosecutors in Trenton Respond to U.S. Scolding http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DEFDE113FF934A15752C0A9609C8B63

***Listen to an interview with Bennet Barlyn here: http://bit.ly/1C43jIR


Hold On There! You've Got The Wrong Guy!



170. Maybe United can institute direct flights to wherever you might want to fly: United confirms 'chairman's flight' subpoena in probe of former Port Authority exec: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/02/united_confirms_chairmans_flight_subpoena_in_probe_of_former_port_authority_exec.html#incart_story_package The "Chairman's Flight"! Just when I thought things were going nowhere it starts to get interesting.

* Well the U.S. Attorney seems to be following this story down the dark and sordid alley it seems to be leading: Feds contact South Carolina airport officials in probe tied to ex-Port Authority Chairman David Samson :http://www.northjersey.com/news/feds-contact-south-carolina-airport-officials-in-probe-tied-to-ex-port-authority-chairman-david-samson-1.1269309 This is really getting interesting.

** Looks like the Quid Pro Quo everyone was looking for! The Dinner Proposal That Led United Into Corruption Probe: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-28/the-dinner-proposal-that-led-united-into-corruption-probe Just some innocent dinner conversation-right? Samson is going down-and I'll bet not alone!

171. Apparently his loudmouth boor act didn't play well in England-who could have guessed? Christie's U.K. trip a 'failure,' presidential scholars say: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/02/chris_christies_uk_trip_a_failure_experts_say.html#incart_m-rpt-1 I say old boy, why don't you sit down and shut up. Pass the crumpets please.

172. So much for the promise of transparency. Chris Christie Is Now Waging 23 Court Battles to Keep State Documents Secret:http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/02/chris-christie-transparency-records-requests What do you suppose they're trying to hide?

173. Could this have anything to do with Sheldon "I gave a million to the RGA" Adelson? Chris Christie accused of blocking casino deal to help billionaire donor: http://www.businessinsider.com/christie-accused-of-blocking-casino-deal-for-adelson-2015-2 Probably just a coincidence, right?

174. Once again re-visiting Crime Digest Item #1:Christie Accuser Renews Request for Grand Jury Records http://www.njlawjournal.com/id=1202718401357/Christie-Accuser-Renews-Request-for-Grand-Jury-Records -I especially like the line "I'm sure there's a Mrs. McGovern who appreciates your paycheck". What scumbags. I generally don't resort to language of this sort but it's just so accurately descriptive.

175. Ah yes, liberal judicial activism has once again raised it's ugly head! NJ Judge Orders Christie to Fund Pension Plan: http://www.njlawjournal.com/id=1202718703611/NJ-Judge-Orders-Christie-to-Fund-Pension-Plan#ixzz3Sc2dmbqS Oh well, he really doesn't like being held accountable for his misdeeds.

176. Another rat jumps ship-Mike "the Mouthpiece" Drewniak resigns:New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s Top Spokesman Leaving http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2015/02/24/new-jersey-gov-chris-christies-top-spokesman-leaving/ Maybe he has to go and gouge somebody's eyes out, pour gasoline in the sockets and light it up.

*But Mike isn't going away-Christie spokesman Drewniak named to newly-created NJ Transit job : http://www.northjersey.com/news/christie-spokesman-drewniak-named-to-newly-created-nj-transit-job-1.1279990 Not really qualified but they managed to create a new job just for him! Oh, by the way, another one of Christie's high school buddies is calling the shots at NJ Transit. What a coincidence.

177. Just in case the prior 175 items haven't convinced you that Christie is a man who will do or say anything to get ahead, he now reveals his "pro-life" credentials! After Linking Clinic-Funding Vetoes to Cost, Christie Now Claims ‘Pro-Life’ Motives:http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/02/26/after-years-of-linking-clinic-funding-vetoes-to-fiscal-prudence-christie-claims-pro-life-motives/ Such a shameful person yet he has no shame!

178. In our latest episode of Chris Christie Financial Genius Spring brings warm weather, the promise of new life and oh yeah, another budget shortfall: Another Budget Shortfall On Christie’s Watch -- State Tax Collections off $60M : http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/02/26/another-budget-shortfall-on-christie-s-watch-state-tax-collections-off-60m/ Tell us another one about the evil independent budget auditor!

* Number nine, number nine, number nine.....Moody's gives N.J. a 'credit negative' following pension ruling, budget plan http://www.northjersey.com/news/moody-s-gives-n-j-a-credit-negative-following-pension-ruling-budget-plan-1.1279028 The man's a financial GENIUS I tell you....downgrade number nine, number nine.....(that's a Beatles reference for you younger folks)

** WHAT AGAIN? At some point this stops becoming news doesn't it? Moody's downgrades N.J. credit rating, citing weak financial position and pension shortfalls :http://www.northjersey.com/news/moody-s-downgrades-n-j-credit-rating-citing-weak-financial-position-and-pension-shortfalls-1.1311053 I wonder if he's touting this as an accomplishment up in New Hampshire. Done me wrong same old song!

179. A contribution to the RGA under Christie has a long track record of being a prudent investment-that legacy continues: Exxon Mobil Settles $9 Billion New Jersey Environmental Case for $250 Million: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/28/nyregion/exxon-mobil-settles-with-new-jersey-over-environmental-damage.html?_r=0 The hits just keep coming! You can sell yourself out but you've just sold out generations of NJ residents you disgusting slob!

*Lori Grifa apparently learned very well at Sampson's knee. A follow up on #179 (and the prediction from #166) & a more in depth look at the miracle 3 cents on a dollar settlement-Chris Christie Backed Law That Lets Him Divert ExxonMobil Settlement From Environmental Cleanup http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-backed-law-lets-him-divert-exxonmobil-settlement-environmental-cleanup-1831558 Guess who represented Exxon? That would be Lori Grifa's new law firm-Archer & Greiner.

**IMPORTANT UPDATE Seems Mr. Christie had the Governor's Office interfere with the litigation-Christie’s Office Drove Exxon Settlement, Ex-Official Says:http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/05/nyregion/christies-office-took-over-exxon-settlement-ex-official-says.html?ref=nyregion Now why do you suppose he would do a thing like that?

***For those interested in original documents (and I know you're out there!) Here is a link to some of the filings in this case: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/documents_read_excerpts_from_the_states_case_again.html#incart_river Paper trails are a bitch aren't they Chris?

180. Christie's insiders seem to be leaving in droves:Inside Team Christie: Severe Dysfunction and 90% of top staff have left: http://politickernj.com/2015/02/inside-team-christie-severe-dysfunction-and-90-of-top-staff-have-left/ The rats are jumping ship, but they all seem to be landing on yachts!

181. A little late but welcome nonetheless -Christie will face a real dilemma because of his close ties and dirty dealings with pension money, high school buddies and campaign donors Chris Christie Faces New Jersey Bill Restricting Campaign Cash From Firms Managing Pension: http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-faces-new-jersey-bill-restricting-campaign-cash-firms-managing-pension-1831938 or not- he could just veto the bill and start raking in the cash.

Hey, how did that Wildstein....I mean that guy I don't know get into the State House again?



182. Hey Chris, explain it again about why the pension system needs to be reformed! Chris Christie Administration Paid $600M In Financial Fees In 2014: http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-administration-paid-600m-financial-fees-2014-1833872 Oh it needs reform alright, except the problem isn't the benefit side. Then again, being a Christie insider is a benefit.

183. Chris Christie and Wall Street pirates have a swashbuckling history that goes way back: Christie has a Bernie Madoff Problem: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/03/1022317/-Christie-has-a-Bernie-Madoff-Problem# This article also raises the question-How did a lawyer fresh out of law school with no experience become a partner in an established law firm? Inquiring minds want to know. Does anyone in a position of authority or with say a platform with a large public following have an inquiring mind?

184. Matt Katz turns over a rock and look what scurries out! Christie Aide Took Political Trip Before Exxon Settlement:http://bit.ly/1G1iaVd Holy Toledo! You just can't make stuff like this up!

185. After giving Exxon a nice big sloppy wet kiss (and several billion dollars to go with it) he heads to Florida (after declaring a State of Emergency in NJ) to soak up the Sun at an Exxon funded event: Hours After Exxon Settlement, Chris Christie Attends Secretive Event Hosted By Exxon-Funded Group: http://www.ibtimes.com/hours-after-exxon-settlement-chris-christie-attends-secretive-event-hosted-exxon-1838686 If you sell us out, you might as well sell us out big time Mr. Christie.

186. Chris Christie's education policies are an utter failure-who would have guessed? Chris Christie’s Newark School Privatization Scam Is An Epic Failure:http://reverbpress.com/politics/chris-christies-newark-school-privatization-scam-is-an-epic-failure/ I wonder what he'll fail at next?

187. Christie came under the spell of the Koch Brothers and let the environment be damned. Oil Baron of the Pine Barrens: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/03/12/oil-baron-of-the-pine-barrens-chris-christie-embraces-big-oil We're all screwed.

188. Wildstein's personal calendar turns out to be a treasure trove of information-Bridgegate Fall Guy Was Inside Man:http://bit.ly/1L0vosj Christie is caught lying again-what a shocker. This one's going to be a bit tough to explain Mr. Class President and Athlete.

189. Taking the state police helicopter to your kid's baseball games wasn't bad enough-Christie rarely pays full cost of state helicopter air time during personal, political travel : http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/03/christie_helicopter_travel.html Hey, when you're entitled you're entitled, know what I mean?

190. This whole you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours thing Christie has going is quite a racket! Chris Christie Maintained State Pension Investments In Prudential After Top Official Gave Contributions ; http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-maintained-state-pension-investments-prudential-after-top-official-1843736 There's nothing to see here folks, just move along.

*This story is apparently even worse than it looks! Chris Christie Officials Sent Pension Money To Subsidiary of Donor’s Foreign Firm
:http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-officials-sent-pension-money-subsidiary-donors-foreign-firm-1847744 Looks like you've got both the quid and the quo!

**Did I say it was worse than it looks? I was wrong! It's way worse than it looks: Chris Christie Officials Suggest New Jersey Paid Millions in Undisclosed Fees: http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-officials-suggest-new-jersey-paid-millions-undisclosed-fees-1864514 Fees, who wants to know?

191. Yet again proving that being Governor is the next best thing to having a friend who's governor-Christie's Camden tax breaks reward political insiders: http://www.northjersey.com/news/christie-s-camden-tax-breaks-reward-political-insiders-1.1290521 Sadly, I'm having trouble getting outraged over anything this guy does anymore.

192. The plot thickens-Federal prosecutors file new subpoena investigating Chris Christie bridge scandal: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/federal-prosecutors-file-new-subpoena-investigating-chris-christie-bridge-scandal/ Keep running for President moron-nobody will ever notice what's going on back in NJ.

193. Oh yeah, that guy you didn't know-Just How Close Was Chris Christie to David Wildstein?: http://politickernj.com/2015/03/just-how-close-was-chris-christie-to-david-wildstein/ try the crab cakes at the Black Horse-they're delicious. then again-you've probably already had them-hey Dave?

Sorry kid. I gave all the Sandy money to political donors. Now go back to your trailer and shut up


194. Governor Christie is more than willing to get on his knees for David Koch: The Oil Baron Of The Pine Barrens : http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/03/12/oil-baron-of-the-pine-barrens-chris-christie-embraces-big-oil Citizens United has apparently ended the era of "cash in an envelope corruption"-it's a brave new world!

195. And don't EVER forget that Christie's shining achievement is recovery from Hurricane Sandy! At Christie's 131st town hall, a Boy Scout tells a Sandy horror story: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/03/at_christies_131st_town_hall_a_boy_scouts_den_moth.html The kid's still living in a camper 2 1/2 years later and the best Christie can do is blame somebody else and give the kid a pen (but not to keep)! The man is a true hero.

196. An excellent analysis of the Christie style of dealing with municipal officials who don't toe the line: Neverending Story: Feds' Bridgegate Probe Takes New Turn : http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/neverending-story-feds-bridgegate-probe-takes-new-turn The screws are definitely being tightened!

197. Being a FOC'er pays off again! This time for the friendly media member who tosses him softballs on his call-in radio show: Chris Christie Gets Corvette For NJ Radio News Director Who Interviews Him: http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-gets-corvette-nj-radio-news-director-who-interviews-him-1856420 Oh Brother!

198. Could this be a harbinger of good things to come? Former Port Authority chairman resigns from law firm he co-founded:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/04/former_port_authority_chairman_resigns_from_law_fi.html#incart_river Merely quitting wasn't enough-the firm is changing its name to eliminate all traces of Samson!

*It's Every man (or in this case woman) for themselves! Wolff & Samson loses top lobbyist:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/04/wolff_samson_loses_top_lobbyist_the_auditor.html#incart_river Yet another rat jumps ship.

** Will Mr. Samson keep quiet if he's indicted? Will he slit his wrists in the bathtub like Frankie Pentangelo in The Godfather? Chris Christie Ally David Samson’s Loyalty May Be Tested as Probe Winds Down:http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-04-16/christie-ally-samson-s-loyalty-may-be-tested-as-probe-winds-down I believe the answers to these questions will be coming soon.

199. Speaking of harbingers-could the vigil be over? Indictments May Be Near in George Washington Bridge Scandal:http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/09/nyregion/indictments-may-be-near-in-george-washington-bridge-scandal.html?_r=0 This certainly fits with what I have heard in the last two weeks.

200. A fitting ending to Volume II-Is a defining moment near for U.S. attorney Fishman?:http://www.northjersey.com/news/is-a-defining-moment-near-for-u-s-attorney-fishman-1.1307587 I couldn't have asked for a better article to leave this edition with. A defining moment indeed, and not just for Mr. Fishman. Here's hoping he has what it takes to bring Christie down.

Hold on to your butts boys and girls, the roller coaster ride is just beginning



201. He's not a rich guy, "just getting by" on more than $700.000 a year! Christie fails to report income, avoids $152,000 in taxes: http://watchdog.org/211787/christie-avoids-income-taxes/ Taxes are for the little people.

202. "But I know I want to spend a lot of time with my family," Mary Pat Christie said. Mary Pat Christie leaves Wall Street job: http://articles.philly.com/2015-04-25/news/61522154_1_the-christies-mary-pat-christie-matt-lauer I see Mary Pat has the same casual relationship with the truth as her husband.

203. Mr. Samson extorting a personal flight from United Air Lines? The Dinner Proposal That Led United Into Corruption Probe: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-28/the-dinner-proposal-that-led-united-into-corruption-probe This ought to be interesting.

204. And the first shoe drops! Documents: Read Wildstein plea agreement, Kelly and Baroni indictment:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/document_read_david_wildsteins_plea_agreement_cour.html Keep your derriere in the chairriere! Kablaam!

*And for those who like original documents (and I know you're out there) here is the indictment: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2071178-bridget-kelly-and-bill-baroni-indictment.html and Wildstein's plea agreement: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2071160-wildstein-david-information.html -some very interesting reading.

205. Christie was cleared! Well not really-Chris Christie’s problems are just beginning: Why the Bridgegate indictments don’t clear his name:http://www.salon.com/2015/05/02/chris_christies_problems_are_just_beginning_why_the_bridgegate_indictments_dont_clear_his_name/ It's not looking good for our favorite governor.

206. It's not all good news-Amid Headline-Grabbing Bridgegate Indictments, Hoboken Probe Comes to End:http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/05/01/amid-headline-grabbing-bridgegate-indictments-hoboken-probe-quietly-comes-to-end/ This is extremely disappointing.

207. There's a lot going on and a lot to keep track of- Making Sense of Latest Events in Long-Running Drama Known as ‘Bridgegate’:http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/05/01/making-sense-of-latest-events-in-long-playing-drama-known-as-bridgegate/ keeping up is going to get harder.

208. This is going to be a very interesting couple of weeks Questions remain on who else was involved in GWB saga, status of ex-Port Authority chairman: http://www.northjersey.com/news/questions-remain-on-who-else-was-involved-in-gwb-saga-status-of-ex-port-authority-chairman-1.1324435 I'm sure there are some good answers coming.

209. What's it all about? Making the Bridgegate case: How Feds threaded the needle:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/making_the_bridgegate_case_how_the_feds_threaded_t.html#incart_river These three were more evil than anybody imagined!

* A good summary can be found here as well-Inside the Bridgegate plot: Lies, vengeance and an epic traffic jam:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/inside_the_bridgegate_plot_lies_vengeance_and_an_epic_traffic_jam.html#incart_most-read_politics_article

210. Since Christie is just getting by financially, it's good the taxpayers can cover his travel costs Travel club: Cost of Christie cops continues to climb: http://watchdog.org/213020/christie-travel-cops/ He's just the greatest!

211. I'm sure all DU readers will immediately go to this page and help poor Bridget Kelly out- Bridget Kelly Legal Defense Fund:https://www.bridgetannekellydefense.com/ She's counting on us!

212. How about his grip on the rest of us?Christie’s Grip on Republican Politics in New Jersey Shows Signs of Slipping: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/04/nyregion/christies-grip-on-republican-politics-in-new-jersey-shows-signs-of-slipping.html?ref=nyregion&_r=0 Bye Bye Chris.

It's never a good day when you find yourself drawn by a courtroom artist



213. Here's an understatement if I ever saw one-With Bridge Case Charges, a Cloud Descends on Christie’s White House Hopes:http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/02/nyregion/charges-in-bridge-scandal-pose-trouble-for-chris-christie.html?action=click&contentCollection=N.Y.%20%2F%20Region&module=RelatedCoverage Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

214. What does $7.5 million get you? Sharp contrasts in GWB probes: Mastro report's narrative more favorable to Christie:http://www.northjersey.com/news/sharp-contrasts-in-gwb-probes-mastro-report-s-narrative-more-favorable-to-christie-1.1324672 Yes Randy, there's nothing to challenge your findings-EXCEPT the part about it being a scheme hatched by senior Christie confidantes to inflict maximum damage on a mayor who didn't play ball.

215. They're both innocent I tell ya! Bridgegate scandal: Kelly, Baroni enter not guilty pleas in federal court: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/bridgegate_kelly_baroni_in_federal_court.html#incart_2box_nj-homepage-featured I like the part about Baroni clasping hands with Bridget-heartwarming- or is it heart worming?

216. Wouldn't THIS be interesting! Chris Christie May Have To Testify In The BridgeGate Trial Of His Former Cronies:http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/bill-baroni-bridget-anne-kelly-bridgegate The only question will be if he is in NJ long enough to testify-he's in Mississippi today meeting with his pal Haley "no bid Sandy contract" Barbour.

*And the legal proceedings may reveal even more interesting facts-‘Unindicted’ and anonymous: Names of possible co-conspirators in GWB case could come out at trial: http://www.northjersey.com/news/unindicted-and-anonymous-names-of-possible-co-conspirators-in-gwb-case-could-come-out-at-trial-1.1330469 How long will people keep quiet?

217. Keep sticking to that story! The Bridgegate outrage that nobody is talking about : http://www.salon.com/2015/05/04/the_bridgegate_outrage_that_nobody_is_talking_about/ This is some pretty damning stuff.

218. If you know what's good for you you'll stop asking quetions Chris Christie Vetoes Anti-Corruption Law To Limit Wall Street Campaign Cash : http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-vetoes-anti-corruption-law-limit-wall-street-campaign-cash-1907717 Nobody needs to know about his sweetheart deals with high school buddies and big donors.

219. This goes back to Volume I-Christie Dodges Questions About Sandy Funds Spent on Luxury Highrise in New Brunswick: http://newbrunswicktoday.com/article/christie-dodges-questions-about-sandy-funds-spent-luxury-highrise-new-brunswick# I wonder what favors qualified this project for Sandy relief money?

220. Whistling past the graveyard again? Yes, Chris Christie Is Still Planning To Run For President. Here's Why : http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/05/04/yes-chris-christie-is-still-planning-to-run-for-president-here-s-why There's nothing to worry about, is there. There's no doubt he brings entertainment value to the race.

221. This is not really new to followers of the Crime Digest but the fact that it may be coming to the forefront certainly is! Chris Christie’s fresh humiliation: The new scandal that could finally put the kibosh on his presidential hopes:http://www.salon.com/2015/05/08/chris_christies_fresh_humiliation_the_scandal_that_could_finally_put_the_kibosh_on_his_presidential_hopes_partner/ More indictments? What a lovely thought. (what exactly IS a kibosh?)

222. Once again the interests of the people of NJ are last on Christie's list-Christie vetoes environmental clean up funding bill pushed after Exxon settlement:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/christie_vetoes_environmental_clean_up_funding_bil.html#incart_river Just when you think he can't be any more despicable!

223. In our latest episode of Chris Christie-Fiscal Conservative, our hero is busy running up big catering bills on the taxpayer's dime-Christie buys $300K of food & booze with NJ expense account: http://watchdog.org/217942/christie-nj-expense-account/ The fact that this amount could probably have permanently endowed our local food bank is reason enough to be outraged.

224. On this week's installment of Chris Christie-Stand up Guy we find the Governor boldly evading blame-Christie says he 'can't be responsible' for allies' actions in Bridgegate:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/christie_says_he_cant_be_held_responsible_for_brid.html#incart_river Now THAT is real leadership!

Now about that contract with the Port Authority old buddy, old pal-We're friends, right?



225. Well, anyone following the many chapters of the Crime Digest knows this but it's good to see it go a little mainstream-5 Chris Christie scandals that blow #Bridgegate out of the water: http://www.salon.com/2015/05/16/5_chris_christie_scandals_that_blow_bridgegate_out_of_the_water_partner/ Yet he continues to run for President-go figure.

226. Alright, now we're entering delusional territory-Christie: Jersey loves me too much to let me go as president: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/christie_says_nj_voters_dont_think_hed_be_a_good_p.html#incart_river Does he really believe this?

*An editorial commenting on this delusional talk-Gov. Christie loses his marbles on national TV:http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/05/gov_christie_loses_his_marbles_on_national_tv_edit.html#incart_river The most important quote in all three volumes so far-"It’s no wonder that New Jersey is screaming a warning to the rest of the country". Take heed indeed.

227. You see, he's not like the rest of us-Christie's lavish gifts as governor not personal income, AG says:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/christies_lavish_gifts_as_governor_not_personal_in.html#incart_river This from the "don't take so much as a sandwich from a local deli owner" governor. This is as disgusting as his bloated pock marked face.

228. We all owe Christie a heartfelt apology! Christie compares coverage of GWB and Clinton email scandals; says media bias apparent:http://www.northjersey.com/news/christie-compares-coverage-of-gwb-and-clinton-email-scandals-says-media-bias-apparent-1.1340265 At least he didn't scream Bengazi! Oh wait, I think he did.

229. If your opponent is choleric of temper, irritate him-Election 2016: Chris Christie Delivered Profanity-Laced Tirade At NJ Press Dinner: http://www.ibtimes.com/election-2016-chris-christie-delivered-profanity-laced-tirade-nj-press-dinner-1933792 Just a few more jabs and I see a full-blown melt down! Now that will be some interesting video.

230. Fasten your seat belts! There are other dangers out there besides Bridgegate! Turbulence Ahead: Chris Christie and the 'Chairman's Flight' : http://bit.ly/1GtkFDb The U.S. Attorney is not finished digging in Christie's cespool. (now there's a disgusting thought!) Ah, fly the "friendly skies" of United!

231. As a new summer season is upon us it's time to reflect on Christie's crowning achievement-Hurricane Sandy recovery! Three years after Sandy, Jersey shore struggles to recover: https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2015/05/21/jersey-shore-still-recovering-post-sandy-summer-nears/GTXl47kS8tRIOu0QEZpP9M/story.html Well if you're politically connected or your mayor endorsed Christie, you might have gotten some of that $4.8 billion-otherwise, you're probably out of luck.

232. The missing materials from the Mastro "investigation" should make for some interesting discussion in the prosecution of Kelly & Baroni-Just When Christie Thinks He's Outta Bridgegate, It Pulls Him Back In:http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/just-when-christie-thinks-hes-outta-bridgegate-it-pulls-him-back-in You've really got to explain how a $7.5 million publicly funded effort produces this kind of shoddy work. Mastro is a maestro-isn't he?

233. Drip, drip, drip....better call a plumber Governor Christie!-Ex-Official Says Chris Christie Broke Grand Jury Law:http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/08/nyregion/statement-says-chris-christie-broke-grand-jury-law.html Wildstein's involvement in a civil suit sheds some light on Christie's methods of operation.

*For those who like original documents-here are Wildstein's answer's to interrogatories in the civil suit-https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/2094494/david-wildstein-statement.pdf Very interesting reading!

234. And yet another disgruntled former ally of the Governor speaks out about his dealings with Fort Lee-Was Fort Lee mayor a long-term political target?: http://www.northjersey.com/news/was-fort-lee-mayor-a-long-term-political-target-1.1351023?page=all Mr. Christie's lies being exposed one by one.

235. Harken back to entries #2, #18, #73 & #121-Former Christie aide slapped with $500 fine for conflict of interest:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/06/ethics_commission_fines_former_christie_aide_500.html#incart_river Wow, $500! As we said before, when you're unethical, it pays to control the ethics committee. It's all for sale folks-even a globally significant environmental region. I mean, what are the world's ecosystems worth compared to a huge stock bonus?

236. The shady deals and insider influence behind the American Dream Mega Mall. Smells worse than the Hackensack mud flats at low tide in the summer. The Saga of Christie, Samson and the American Dream Mega Mall. Read Part 1 here: http://www.thenation.com/blog/180471/saga-christie-samson-and-american-dream-megamall-part-i
then read part 2 here: http://www.thenation.com/blog/180497/saga-christie-samson-and-american-dream-megamall-part-ii . This should have been it's own entry a long time ago.

I wanted to caption this photo but I really can't think of anything that would explain this!



237. In the latest chapter of our favorite adventure story-Chris Christie-Financial Genius-we find our hero doing his best for the NJ economy-N.J.'s economic growth ranks near bottom in U.S.:http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2015/06/economic_activity_inched_up_in_nj_in_2014_but_stat.html No doubt the work of the evil public employees and teachers, eh Chris. Imagine what he can do for (to) the country!

238. Remember that $7.5 million whitewash that Christie purchased from Gibson Dunn? Well it may very well be that Mr. Christie bought a bit more than he actually bargained for-Mastro Report Isn't Going Away Any Time Soon:http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/06/09/mastro-report-isn-t-going-away-any-time-soon Eventually lies will catch up to you.

239. I don't quite know what to make of this-GWB scandal: Baroni lawyers say prosecutors' request aimed at protecting Christie ‘inner circle' :http://www.northjersey.com/news/gwb-scandal-baroni-lawyers-say-prosecutors-request-aimed-at-protecting-christie-inner-circle-1.1354255 Are the rats turning on each other or is someone really protecting Christie and his inner circle? I just don't know. I can't really get my head around this pleading.

*And Bridget Kelly says-"me too!"-Kelly lawyer fights prosecutors' request to keep GWB evidence confidential: http://www.northjersey.com/news/kelly-lawyer-fights-prosecutors-request-to-keep-gwb-evidence-confidential-1.1355224 Like there's something in there she doesn't already know?

240. Well this should be funnier than back-to-back Seinfeld reruns every night-Christie could make formal 2016 announcement next week, report says:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/06/christie_could_be_days_away_from_formal_2016_annou.html#incart_river Why does this remind me of Gomez Addams' train set?

*Don't take my word for the embarrassment that is on it's way-Chris Christie is about to embarrass himself: The presidential fantasy he just can’t give up: http://www.salon.com/2015/06/25/chris_christie_is_about_to_embarrass_himself_the_presidential_fantasy_he_just_cant_give_up/ About to embarrass himself?

241. Hey America! Take a good close look at what Christie has been up to-Zzzzzz. As the Christie Campaign Heats Up, the Christie Statehouse Sleeps:http://bit.ly/1J1zMmu He's just the greatest!

242. Here's one that needs to be aired widely-From Rocktivity-Christie says like same-sex marriage, civil rights movement could have been settled through ballot referendum : http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/christie-says-civil-rights-movement-could-have-been-settled-through-a-ballot-referendum Spoken like only a privileged rich white guy can speak it.

243. And in case you haven't gotten the gist of this whole Christie Crime Digest thing yet-DANGER WILL ROBINSON!-After 14 years of watching Christie, a warning: He lies: http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/06/after_14_years_of_watching_christie_a_warning_he_l.html#incart_river Forewarned is forearmed-or-don't ever let anybody say I didn't warn you.

244. An insightful summation of Mr.Christie's career and personality- Kelly: Christie enters the arena – Jersey style: http://www.northjersey.com/columnists/christie-enters-the-arena-jersey-style-1.1368884 A pretty accurate critique of Christie's style and a reminder of what the truth really is.

* The New York Times deigns to use facts to evaluate Christie as well-Gov. Chris Christie’s Phony Truth-Telling: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/01/opinion/gov-christies-phony-truth-telling.html?ref=topics It’s fundamentally nonsense. There are lines between brash and belligerent, between open and obnoxious, and, most important, between “telling it like it is” and not telling the truth. Mr. Christie crosses those lines all the time...

245. The campaign's on us! But will we get the same kind of political favors as his big donors? Christie's presidential campaign won't reimburse N.J. for troopers protecting him as he travels : http://www.northjersey.com/news/christie-s-presidential-campaign-won-t-reimburse-n-j-for-troopers-protecting-him-as-he-travels-1.1368279 It's good to be the king.

246. And sometimes the bizarre just doesn't quit when it comes to Mr. Christie- Mitt Romney Hosts A Sleepover With Marco Rubio And Chris Christie:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/03/mitt-romney-sleepover-mar_n_7725522.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000013 Do you think they played Spin the Bottle?

247. As he enters the campaign fray, don't forget this- Christie And The Cowboys-Just The Tip Of The Iceberg: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026074161 We tend to have a very short attention span and this is something that should not pass unnoticed-do you think the entertainers posing as journalists have the guts to ask him about this as he does his talking heads tour? I'll bet the mortgage not one of them does.


248. The investigation into the Port Authority's use of funds for unauthorized projects continues to progress (quietly)-Port Authority road-funds probe intensifies: http://www.northjersey.com/news/port-authority-road-funds-probe-intensifies-1.1368743?page=all I wonder if any of these people will take a fall for Christie.

Not Now, I'm Practicing My Perp Walk



249. Back to Item #1-the Hunterdon County mess-Chris Christie Administration Whistleblower To Justice Department: Bridgegate Prosecutor May Be Compromised: http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-administration-whistleblower-justice-department-bridgegate-prosecutor-1997095 I certainly hope this isn't true.

*You can read Mr. Barlyn's letter to the US Attorney General Loretta Lynch here: https://www.scribd.com/document_downloads/270721519?extension=pdf&from=embed&source=embed

**This is one that luckily just won't go away! Ex-prosecutor who claims Christie had allies' charges dropped wins battle for records: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/07/ex-prosecutor_who_claims_christie_had_allies_charg.html#incart_river Good for you Mr. Barlyn-don't ever give up!

***Mr. Barlyn is on a roll! Gov. Chris Christie's Office Made Inquiries In Hunterdon County Scandal, According To Documents:http://www.ibtimes.com/gov-chris-christies-office-made-inquiries-hunterdon-county-scandal-according-1821896 He's doing a much better job than Mr. Fishman with none of the power or resources of the U.S. Attorney-very interesting.

250. More evidence that being a FOC'er is good for your bottom line-Chris Christie Gives Taxpayer Subsidy To Donor Whose Lawsuit Helped Him Prosecute Democratic Financier: http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-gives-taxpayer-subsidy-donor-whose-lawsuit-helped-him-prosecute-2006881 This whole sordid Kushner affair was the stuff of soap operas and bad movies. Not surprised to see Christie was in the middle of it.

251. The most interesting thing I took from this was the fact that Michelle Brown has parlayed her "public service" into a $450,000/yr. job-Lawsuit puts focus on ties between Christie, non-profit:http://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-state-news/lawsuit-puts-focus-on-ties-between-christie-non-profit-1.1378337 See item #10-Improper aid seems to be Ms. Brown's specialty!

252. There's a lot that's wrong with this and yet it all makes sense, in a weird sort of way: A Supermarket Tabloid Company is Funding Chris Christie's Super PAC:http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2015/07/chris-christie-super-pac-american-media Having the National Enquirer fund his continued campaign probably insures a certain level of material.

253. Yes, this is an old theme. It's good to be a FOC'er.(Friend of Christie) but we should keep hammering this-it may just sink in some day-Backing Christie Is Good Business for Bridge-and-Tunnel Lawyers:http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-08-06/backing-christie-is-good-business-for-bridge-and-tunnel-lawyers This all needs to end badly for Christie and his cronies.

254. Well civil suits have much different rules than criminal cases. This may just lead to some interesting revelations-Suit revived against Christie allies over GWB lane closings: http://www.northjersey.com/news/suit-revived-against-christie-allies-over-gwb-lane-closings-1.1388036 Thanks to Roctivity for keeping the faith.

255. Who does this guy work for anyway? Christie sells his soul to Norquist, and Jersey suffers: http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/08/christies_no-tax_charade_imperils_njs_transportati.html#incart_river Pulling out all the stops to stop the bleeding.

256. Time for another chapter in the exciting series-Chris Christie Financial Genius! When last we left our hero, NJ was near the bottom of the country in economic growth. This time its jobs-New Jersey lost 26,100 jobs in two months :http://www.northjersey.com/news/business/new-jersey-lost-26-100-jobs-in-two-months-1.1395702 Heck of a job Christie!

257. Just in case you didn't know how things work-Cowboys owner to host Christie fundraiser, report says:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/08/cowboys_owner_to_host_christie_fundraiser_report_s.html#incart_river This has nothing to do with the Presidential election and everything to do with getting lucrative contracts back home in NJ.

258. Just like his big political bust-Operation Bid Rig- his "terrorism" prosecution was equally a sham-Did Chris Christie Send Entrapped Innocents to Jail? Re-examining the Case of the Fort Dix 5: http://www.democracynow.org/2015/6/25/did_chris_christie_send_entrapped_innocents Just a despicable human being.

259. No wonder he's on Jimmy Fallon's show so much-the man is a comedian!l Christie's laughable FedEx solution on immigration: http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/31/opinions/reyes-chris-christie/ He'll be here all week folks and don't forget to tip your waiters!

260. Just when things looked quiet!United Airlines Chief Resigns Over Corruption Investigation:http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/09/business/united-ceo-port-authority-investigation.html?_r=0 And dinner was so delicious-but it seems to have caused indigestion a year later!

*Oh the reach of this scandal-Tangled web of United, Port Authority and Christie pals extends to Atlantic City flights:http://www.newser.com/article/6c972dc7a006447eb2f4b8fcf60e0f60/tangled-web-of-united-port-authority-and-christie-pals-extends-to-atlantic-city-flights.html

**In the great scheme of things, this is relatively minor but it just goes to show the blind spot of Christie and his associates when it comes to ethics-NJ transportation chief denies ethics violation by attending meeting where United was discussed: http://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-transportation-chief-denies-ethics-violation-by-attending-meeting-where-united-was-discussed-1.1421343 At some point, isn't enough, enough?

Oh Look! It's another item in the Christie Crime Digest!



261. A redux of entry # 132 back in Volume II-Chris Christie Financial Genius strikes again! Lottery privatized under Christie falls $136 million short: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20150914_ap_4ba5f48a54c94fc3bafe127b97eebcc6.html?c=r But Northstar did donate $275,000 to the RGA!

* Well let's see where this goes-Lawmaker wants hearing on N.J. lottery shortfalls:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/09/lawmaker_wants_hearing_on_nj_lottery_shortfalls.html#incart_river Who needs hearings? They gave a ton of money to the RGA, they hired David Samson's law firm and Christie's buddy DuHaime to be their lobbyist and got a contract where they were the only bidder. Seems pretty straight forward to me.

262. Ah, the answers to all of Christie's problems-Christie: 'Just stop reading newspapers' on Samson investigation: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/09/christie_bridgegate_press.html Why is everybody always picking on me?

*Stop reading! It will only give you a headache! Disgraced United CEO Jeff Smisek Is the Reason for Income Inequality:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-w-gerard/disgraced-united-ceo-jeff_b_8129844.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592 Sheesh!

263. Don't you know who I am? Revealed: The Secret Origin of the Feud Between Chris Christie and NYPD: http://observer.com/2015/09/revealed-the-secret-origin-of-the-feud-between-chris-christie-and-nypd/ Why yes I do know-you're a loud mouthed obnoxious entitled asshole. Did I guess right?

* The mans a real charmer Chris Christie causes traffic outside Ground Zero before 9/11 ceremony to take phone call: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/wtc-visit-puts-chris-christie-new-jam-article-1.2359347 I'm Gumby dammit!

264. We've been following this for some time. Seems Mr. Mastro's firm is in a bit of a box and Mr. Critchley knows it-Lawyers insist firm must turn over Bridgegate notes:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/09/lawyers_insist_firm_must_turn_over_bridgegate_note.html This appears to come under the category of "damned if you do, damned if you don't"

* and for some interesting original source reading, check out the pleadings- they're pretty fascinating for how this stuff goes: The brief- http://bit.ly/1iKCAg7 , the cover letter-http://bit.ly/1Kt40QA and the exhibits, which are really some "in your face" lawyering by Mr. Critchley, http://bit.ly/1Kt46Yk You've really got to take a look at this stuff.

265. Well we already knew this to be true- Chris Christie, Unfit to Lead:http://politickernj.com/2015/09/chris-christie-unfit-to-lead/ This is just another example of what a sleaze-bag Governor Christie is.

266. Maybe this is nothing- Sources:United Lobbyist, Now Christie Cabinet Member, Tried to Stop Bridgegate Probe:http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/09/28/united-lobbyist-now-christie-cabinet-member-pressed-for-halt-to-bridgegate-investigation
I had heard when he was hired that he was there to placate the Bridgegate committee and take the heat off of Christie-maybe that was true?

*Then again, maybe this IS something! NJ transportation commissioner Jamie Fox stepping down:http://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-transportation-commissioner-jamie-fox-stepping-down-1.1424405 Just a remarkable coincidence, right?

267. Start warming up your singing voice Baroni! You're going down! Port Authority: Former Christie Appointee Deleted Key Records: http://www.wnyc.org/story/port-authority-former-christie-appointee-deleted-key-records/ Don't go down alone! When it all comes crashing to the ground do we yell Jenga?

268. The master of hypocrisy strikes again!- Chris Christie Had Two Private Email Accounts; NJ Governor Blocks Release Of Any Messages He May Have Sent To Government Officials: http://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/chris-christie-had-two-private-email-accounts-nj-governor-blocks-release-any You can run but you can't hide.

269. Not a new entry but worth checking out-The video version of the Christie Crime Digest-vimeo.com/142194514 Well worth 15 minutes of your time.

270. Christopher Christie....four C's and a D-that's a 1.8-congratulations son, you're at the top of the Delta pledge class:Chris Christie: low poll numbers, low fundraising numbers, high foreclosure rates:http://factivists.democrats.org/chris-christie-low-poll-numbers-low-fundraising-numbers-high-foreclosure-rates/ Just waiting for "Mr. Blutarsky-zero point zero!

271. Speaking of bad grades, here's one that really counts-New Jersey Squeaks by with Grade of ‘D’ on 2015 Good Government Report Card :http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/11/10/new-jersey-squeaks-by-with-d-on-2015-good-government-report-card/ before Christie came along, NJ was actually rated at the top of the class (as in #1 in the country!) for "good government" practices. Now we get a D. Can't say I'm surprised.

272. More of Chris Christie's famous "transparency"!-Bridgegate Defendants: Christie's Team Hiding Thousands of Documents, Including Christie Emails: http://www.wnyc.org/story/bridgegate-defendants-christies-team-hiding-thousands-documents-including-christie-emails/ What oh what could they be hiding?

I Don't Know Any Of These Guys! And By The Way Smisek, Tell Your Employees at United to make the checks out to "Christie for Governor"



273. Oink, oink! Christie, that silver-tongued devil, once again demonstrates that he just has a way with words-N.J. police union president lashes out at Christie for calling him a 'pension pig': http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/12/police_union_president_lashes_out_at_christie_for.html#incart_story_package This from a guy who just keeps "squeezing the orange".

274. Thank you Dr. Christie, now do you have any other advice for us? Christie: There's no climate change crisis: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/12/christie_i_dont_see_evidence_climate_change_is_a_c.html#incart_story_package I guess he just forgot about that whole Sandy thing.

275. If the King of Jordan was such a good friend, then why couldn't Christie remember his name during the debate? Christie botches name of Jordanian king during GOP debate: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/12/christie_says_hed_meet_with_jordanian_king_who_die.html#incart_most-read_politics_article You remember that guy-what's his name- that picked up the $30,000 bill for you and your entourage at the Kempinski Hotel, don't you?

276. Well we all knew this already, but now a Federal judge is saying it-Judge rips Christie’s in-house inquiry into GWB scandal for destroying notes:http://www.northjersey.com/news/judge-chastises-christie-s-lawyers-for-failure-to-keep-notes-in-gwb-probe-1.1474615 an $8 million sham of a report. But hey, it was good for Christie.

* for those of you who like original documents, you can read the judge's scathing opinion here: http://dng.northjersey.com/media_server/tr/2015/12/16judge/opinion.pdf

277. The Bridgegate legal investigation a sham? Say it ain't so! Christie's scam investigation on Bridgegate demands a new probe | Editorial : http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/12/christies_scam_investigation_on_bridgegate_demands.html#incart_river_home Documents? What documents?

278. A trail leading to hidden or destroyed evidence? Baroni, Kelly Seek to Unseal Gibson Dunn Memo to Port Authority: http://www.njlawjournal.com/id=1202745646875/Baroni-Kelly-Seek-to-Unseal-Gibson-Dunn-Memo-to-Port-Authority?cn=20151223&pt=Breaking%20News&src=EMC-Email&et=editorial&bu=New%20Jersey%20Law%20Journal&slreturn=20151123154853 The sham of an investigation conducted by Gibson Dunn just gets more and more unbelievable-but it "exonerated" Christie, right?

279. I can't believe I didn't see this when it came out-A very good summary of the career of my favorite governor-What a Dick: The Chris Christie Story:http://www.gq.com/story/the-chris-christie-story Written like the author actually knows the guy. The title says it all!

280. Okay then, if this argument flies then we are doomed as a nation. Christie: America can trust me because N.J. doesn't like me:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/12/what_would_president_christie_think_of_your_opinio.html#incart_river_home I would hope even the hogs in Iowa wouldn't believe this swill.

*And a related idiotic argument from Mr. Christie-Christie warns N.H. GOP rivals will say 'nasty stuff' about him: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/01/christie_warns_nh_gop_rivals_will_say_nasty_stuff.html#incart_river_home Oh my, is this what is meant when they say the truth hurts?

281. Are there no prisons? And the Union workhouses. Are they still in operation? Chris Christie Refuses To Help Unemployed New Jersey Residents Hold Onto Food Stamps: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2016/01/02/3735561/christie-food-stamps-waiver/?ref=yfp If they would rather die,they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.

282. Oh, and that fairy tale he likes to tell about how he's fought terrorists-A look at two prosecutions of extremists touted by Christie : http://www.northjersey.com/news/a-look-at-two-prosecutions-of-extremists-touted-by-christie-1.1485176 Just a despicable human being. But hey, he's a brave crime fighter!

283. Here's some breaking news! Chris Christie Lies Again! Did Christie just lie about past Planned Parenthood donation? :http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/01/fact_checking_christie_on_planned_parenthood_donat.html#incart_river_home I guess that's not really breaking news is it.

284. Turn a little attention on Christie's actual record and even the worst journalists can find a story-Jabs at Christie turn focus to his mess in N.J. :http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/01/jabs_at_christie_turn_focus_to_his_mess_in_jersey.html Hey main stream press-just pay a little attention to what Mr. Moran is saying and you might actually be able to write an interesting story or two or......

Turn the Pequod into the wind Mr. Starbuck! We're going after 'im



285. Inquiring minds want to know! Attorney: Prosecutors' list of 'unindicted coconspirators' in GWB lane closure scandal should be made public:http://www.northjersey.com/news/attorney-prosecutors-list-of-unindicted-coconspirators-in-gwb-lane-closure-scandal-should-be-made-public-1.1489924 Well, it's only a matter of time before this list goes public now.

* As I said, it's only a matter of time- Media companies ask court to release names of unindicted co-conspirators in GWB trial http://www.northjersey.com/news/media-companies-ask-court-to-release-names-of-unindicted-co-conspirators-in-gwb-trial-1.1490586 Who can it be now?

* Mark your calendars-This ought to be an interesting day-Bridgegate trial: Court schedules date for oral arguments:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/01/court_schedules_date_for_oral_arguments_in_bridgeg.html#incart_river_home Who could those unindicted co-conspirators be?

286. The Blizzard of 2016-an opera in five acts

*Act I-He's got better things to do-Christie shelters in place; plans to stay in N.H. as snow hits Jersey:http://www.northjersey.com/news/stile-christie-shelters-in-place-plans-to-stay-in-n-h-as-snow-hits-jersey-1.1496840 Christie is staying in New Hampshire during the storm.

**Act II-Come home little Christie! After Jonas Criticism, Christie Leaves New Hampshire Campaign To Help New Jersey Weather Snowstorm:http://www.ibtimes.com/after-jonas-criticism-christie-leaves-new-hampshire-campaign-help-new-jersey-weather-2276664 He manages to sound like he's doing us a favor by doing his job.

***Act III-Peace out folks-all is well-'Disaster governor' uses N.J. blizzard to pitch himself to N.H.: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/01/disaster_governor_uses_nj_blizzard_to_pitch_himsel.html After dropping by for a brief visit, the great disaster of a governor declares all is well!

****Act IV-He declares victory all too soon-Earth to Christie: These pictures don't lie, so why must you?: http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/01/earth_to_christie_these_pictures_dont_lie_so_why_must_you_moran.html Hubris, at the heart of all great tragic stories.

*****Act V-Caught in a lie, out hero resorts to his old tricks-Christie response to flooding: Should I pick up a mop?: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/01/christie_on_storm_criticism_in_nh_its_already_done.html#incart_article_small Try as he might to wriggle out of this one, he's really in it now.

******Epilogue-I hear the fat lady singing-'Crazy mayor' slams Christie in wake of 'mop' comment: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/01/crazy_mayor_slams_christie_in_wake_of_mop_comment.html#incart_2box_nj-homepage-featured He's gone a bridge too far this time (sorry, I couldn't resist)

287. A brilliant assessment of Mr. Christie-Have You No Sense of Decency, Gov. Christie?: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/01/26/opinion-have-you-no-sense-of-decency-gov-christie/ Is that a rhetorical question?

288. The chickens are starting to come home to roost (or some such cliche')-Chris Christie's office 'refusing to release Bridgegate emails' : http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/04/chris-christies-office-refusing-to-release-bridgegate-emails Tune in tomorrow folks for another exciting episode.

289. Aren't we getting tired of paying Gibson Dunn taxpayer funds to raise money for Christie yet? (see entry #78 to see how long this has been going on): Christie's Bridgegate Lawyer Is Raising Money For 'Christie 2016' :http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/12/10/christie-s-bridgegate-lawyer-is-raising-money-for-christie-2016# That's a fair question to ask, isn't it?

290. He may not be doing his job as Governor, but he did have time to catch Springsteen-See the view from Christie's seat at last night's Springsteen show: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/02/see_the_view_from_christies_seat_at_springsteens_show.html#incart_river_home Why does "Born to Run" come to mind?

291. He's fading fast-He's moved up to 8th place, but that's only because two people in front of him quit-What's happening to Christie's support in N.H.?: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/02/whats_happening_to_christies_support_in_nh.html#incart_most-read_politics_article I guess he's finally spent enough time in New Hampshire for the Granite Staters to get to know him.

292. Now this will make for some interesting legal maneuvering-GWB case defendants can subpoena Christie office docs, says judge: http://www.northjersey.com/news/gwb-case-defendants-can-subpoena-christie-office-docs-says-judge-1.1506821 Nothing good will come from this!-at least not for Mr. Christie or Gibson Dunn

293. I think this warrants a 15-yard penalty for piling on-Respected former NJ Supreme Court judge criticizes Christie, questions his legacy:http://www.northjersey.com/news/respected-former-nj-supreme-court-judge-criticizes-christie-questions-his-legacy-1.1506830 When challenged to come up with 3 things Christie did for NJ author Matt Katz could only come up with 2 and one of them was dubious.

294. It's a tough day to be Mr. Christie-Doblin: Boy in the bubble, beats bully in the bathroom: http://www.northjersey.com/opinion/boy-in-the-bubble-beats-bully-in-the-bathroom-1.1506766 Here's hoping for even tougher days ahead.

295. He's spent the past two years stumping in New Hampshire, spent millions of dollars, ignored his job as governor-all to finish 6th Christie stumbles in N.H. and faces early exit : http://www.northjersey.com/news/stile-christie-stumbles-in-n-h-and-faces-early-exit-1.1508845 He did beat Cruella Deville and Dr. Demento.

296. This is Christie-The wounded beast heads home: http://www.bobbraunsledger.com/4759-2/ A nobody who lost a local Morris County election but who had a brother who could buy him a job he didn’t deserve and had no right to fill.

Here's a picture that "Tells it like it is". Time for Toby Tyler to leave the circus and go home. At least this is one of Christie's messes that can be cleaned up-unlike what he's left behind in NJ.



297. Ah, money laundering at it's finest-You get a lucrative public contract-send some money right back as a campaign donation-Bridgegate lawyer backed Christie in N.H.:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/02/bridgegate_lawyer_backing_christie_in_nh_the_audit.html Having your friend conduct the investigation into your wrongdoing isn't a bad perk either.

298. Was this on the editorial page or the advice column? Six N.J. newspapers call on Christie to resign: http://www.app.com/story/opinion/editorials/2016/03/01/chris-christie-resign-recall/81162824/ Either way let's hope Christie takes the advice.

299. Well here's a surprise (not really)-Ex-Christie aide may have destroyed Bridgegate evidence:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/08/ex-christie_aide_could_face_ag_probe_over_destruct.html We've heard from Ms. Renna before and hopefully we'll hear more from her at the trial.

300. It's all going to get so interesting from here-Jurors Picked for Bridge Scandal Trial as Opinions About Chris Christie Are Aired:http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/15/nyregion/bridgegate-jury-chris-christie.html?_r=0 On to the trial!

Just Another Day At The Office!


301. A bit of a pre-game show- Game day for Bridgegate trial: How did we get here? :http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/09/a_bridgegate_trial_road_map_how_did_we_get_here.html Just to get you up to speed.

302. It's about time to start to get to the bottom of all of this- It's time for some answers in Fort Lee:http://www.northjersey.com/news/kelly-it-s-time-for-some-answers-in-fort-lee-1.1662398 This ought to be interesting.

303.What we all want to know-Bridgegate Trial Primer: What Did Chris Christie Know — and When Did He Know It?:http://www.wnyc.org/story/bridgegate-trial-primer-what-did-chris-christie-know-and-when-did-he-know-it/ Some of the excellent reporting from Matt Katz and Andrea Bernstein on behalf of WNYC. Well worth the read.

304. Yes, was Chris Christie culpable or incompetent? As the ‘Bridgegate’ trial begins this week, New Jersey’s Chris Christie remains the focus :http://www.rawstory.com/2016/09/as-the-bridgegate-trial-begins-this-week-new-jerseys-chris-christie-remains-the-focus/ That's a heck of a choice, isn't it?

305. What's that saying? From your lips to God's ears? The Bridgegate scandal, Christie's white whale, will smash his career to pieces:http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/09/a_prediction_christies_political_life_ends_with_br.html Time will tell.

306. And while you were away-Christie's trusted mentor and right hand found himself disgraced and entering a guilty plea-David Samson, Ally of Christie, Admits to Bribery Over Airline Route :http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/15/nyregion/david-samson-chris-christie-george-washington-bridge-scandal.html Is he going to go down alone? I hope not.

307. This wasn't in my high school yearbook-Most Likely to Destroy a Governor: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/09/david-wildstein-chris-christie-bridgegate-trial.html This is a great article.Will David Wildstein, star witness in the Bridgegate trial, take down his old high-school classmate Chris Christie? Oh I hope so.

308. Ever just have one of "those years"? Chris Christie’s 2016 just keeps getting worse and worse. And worse.: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/19/chris-christies-2016-just-keeps-getting-worse-and-worse-and-worse/ I don't think he's hit bottom just yet.

309. Summing up day 1 of the trial-Christie Takes a Beating in Bridgegate Trial Opening: 10 Takeaways: http://www.wnyc.org/story/christie-takes-beating-bridgegate-trial-opening-10-takeaways/ It's going to be a long 6 weeks for our favorite governor!

*A more detailed look at the first day of trial-Christie in Crosshairs, Targeted by Bridgegate Opening Statements: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/09/20/christie-in-the-crosshairs-governor-targeted-by-bridgegate-opening-statements/ This was only the first day!

310. Witness Number 1-The Fort Lee Police Chief testifies about a clandestine meeting with the Port Authority Director of Operations-Bridgegate: First witness describes 'cloak and dagger' meeting on lane closures:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/09/bridgegate_what_time_for_some_traffic_problems_rea.html#incart_river_home Tell the mayor to call Baroni!

311. Witness Number 2-At Bridgegate trial, Fort Lee mayor tells of wooing by Christie campaign:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/09/the_bridgegate_trial_a_failed_courtship_and_then_t_1.html#incart_river_home The story just gets better.

312. Witness Number 3-P.A. director: Bridgegate lane closures were 'abusive decision' :http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/09/gridlock_politics_and_lies_on_the_stand_at_the_bri.html#incart_river_home It was important to Trenton-Indeed!

Sorry I'm Late-Traffic was a bitch! You all know how THAT can be.



313. Witness Number 4-John Ma-Bridgegate trial: Port Authority staffer says he tipped off media to lane closures : http://www.northjersey.com/news/bridgegate-trial-port-authority-staffer-says-he-tipped-off-media-to-lane-closures-1.1664734 Wildstein was feared and hated by hundreds at the Port Authority, maybe thousands. That's Christie's right hand man alright.

314. Some wild testimony about Wildstein-Wildstein 'terrorized' P. A. employees, director testifies at Bridgegate trial: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/09/bridgegate_wildstein_foye_fire.html#incart_river_home_pop And they couldn't get rid of him because he was protected by Christie-you know, the guy that didn't even really know him.

315. Witness Number 5-Tina Lado-Bridgegate trial: N.Y. Port Authority chief says Christie protected his people : http://www.northjersey.com/news/bridgegate-trial-n-y-port-authority-chief-says-christie-protected-his-people-1.1664734 Baroni told her not to call back the mayor of Fort Lee because the phone bills were too high! Really, he said that.

316. Witness Number 6-Matt Mowers takes the stand-Former Christie aide testifies at Bridgegate trial about how office handed out favors:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/09/former_christie_aide_testifies_in_bridgegate_trial.html#incart_most-commented_news_article They kept a spread sheet of favors they did for democratic mayors! Now that's transactional government at its finest!

317. Witness Number 7-the man, the myth, the legend, the vindictive asshole who was hated by hundreds, if not thousands (that was actual trial testimony!) David Wildstein-Bridgegate Trial: Wildstein says he was hired to play 'bad cop' to Baroni’s 'good cop' : http://www.northjersey.com/news/bridgegate-trial-wildstein-says-he-was-hired-to-play-bad-cop-to-baroni-s-good-cop-1.1665806 The trial is getting real now folks!

* A summary of Day 5 from WNYC-more excellent reporting-Christie Talked Endorsements with Wildstein and Other Takeaways From the Bridgegate Trial Day 5 :http://www.wnyc.org/story/christie-discussed-port-authority-resouces-endorsement-scheme-and-other-takeaways-bridgegate-trial-day-5/ Next week should prove to be very interesting.

**Another day of Wildstein's testimony and it just keeps getting better-Bridgegate trial: Wildstein testifies former Bergen County executive was told of plan before lane closures: http://www.northjersey.com/news/bridgegate-trial-wildstein-testifies-former-bergen-county-executive-was-told-of-plan-before-lane-closures-1.1666870 He told Stepien as well along with what the cover story was going to be. More to come!

***A great recap of Day 6 with still more to come from Mr. Wildstein-Wildstein Implicates Christie's Campaign Manager -- and More Bridgegate Trial Day 6 Takeaways : http://www.wnyc.org/story/wildstein-names-more-names-and-more-bridgegate-trial-day-6-takeaways/ Who in the Christie administration DIDN"T know about this scheme beforehand?

****Day 7-More Wildstein, more revelations-Wildstein testifies Christie’s spokesman knew of GWB plot: http://www.northjersey.com/news/wildstein-testifies-christie-s-spokesman-knew-of-gwb-plot-1.1667817 Everybody knew!

*****An insult to one of the great movie characters of all time-‘Mr. Wolf’ Sought to Fix Bridge Scandal, Ex-Christie Ally Testifies:http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/29/nyregion/mr-wolf-sought-to-fix-bridge-scandal-ex-christie-ally-testifies.html?hpw&rref=nyregion&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region So pretty please with sugar on top....

******Another day on the witness stand for Mr. Wildstein, meanwhile-Here’s the Unofficial List of Bridgegate Co-conspirators: http://www.wnyc.org/story/heres-unofficial-list-bridgegate-co-conspirators/ The number is up to 10 and counting. Is there anybody in the Christie Administration who WASN'T in on this? Raise your hand if you had nothing to do with it.

*******After 8 days, Wildstein is finally finished with his testimony. It was an interesting week.Who is telling the truth? 3 shockers in Wildstein's latest Bridgegate testimony : http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/10/3_surprising_new_details_from_wildsteins_latest_br.html It's time to move on to other witnesses but the damage has been done.

318. Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks Christie Has Blood On His Hands Christie the destroyer: How New Jersey's governor ran the Port Authority and NJTransit into the ground:http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/christie-destroyer-article-1.2813600 It took ONE DAY after the Hoboken crash to reach an agreement on the Transportation Trust Fund!

319.What has come out of the trial so far? On Bridgegate, the stink around Christie gets worse:http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/10/on_bridgegate_the_stink_around_christie_gets_worse.html#incart_2box_opinion That's a lot of stink.

320. Of all of the messed up things Christie has done, perhaps none of them are as bad as screwing up Sandy recovery-Federal Audit Finds New Jersey Failed to Control Sandy Funds :http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/10/05/federal-audit-finds-new-jersey-failed-to-control-sandy-funds/ # Remember what Criswell said way back in Volume 1.

So if anybody asks-It was a traffic study. Got me?


321. Witness Number 8-Christopher Stark from the IGA Office that Bridget Kelly ran for Christie-Witness says Christie, staff froze out local officials who crossed governor : http://www.northjersey.com/news/witness-says-christie-staff-froze-out-local-officials-who-crossed-governor-1.1671584

322. This is related to the previous entry but deserves its own space here-Bridgegate Witness: Christie Dropped F-Bomb on County Official to Threaten Him:http://www.wnyc.org/story/bridgegate-witness-christie-dropped-f-bomb-county-official-threaten-him/ Words cannot describe how proud I am to be from New Jersey today! Ugh.

323. So Christie didn't know about the lane closures but he did know about an office baking contest?-'Christie Creme' donuts turned up the heat in gov's office, Bridgegate testimony reveals: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/10/christie_creme_donuts_turned_up_the_heat_in_govs_o.html More importantly, Christine Renna exposes herself as a self-serving, conniving untrustworthy creep. In other words, the perfect Christie employee.

324. So the trial goes on, what did we find out last week? Bridgegate: What happened in Week 3: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/10/bridgegate_what_happened_in_week_3.html#incart_river_home This was an ugly week in the courtroom.

325. Still to come-Stile: Christie’s soldiers may become witnesses:http://www.northjersey.com/news/stile-christie-s-soldiers-may-become-witnesses-1.1673503 The whole idea of turning over the rocks in this administration is a bit-disgusting.

326. Maybe, just maybe....New Scrutiny for Whistleblower Case: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/10/10/new-scrutiny-for-whistleblower-case-involving-christie-administration/ In the words of the assemblyman-this case might make Bridgegate look like "no big deal". Item #1 still lives-barely.

327.Quite a day in court today: Former Christie aide says Baroni alerted her about Bridgegate emails:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/10/governors_authorities_chief_leads_off_week_4_of_br.html#incart_most-read_news_article Oh, and just as an aside, Kelly's attorney said that Kelly told Christie about the lane closures BEFORE they happened. Just sayin'.

*Or to sum up today's courtroom doings-Bridgegate Day 15: Another Bombshell, Another Lie to The Press, And Some More Cursing:http://www.wnyc.org/story/bridgegate-day-15-another-bombshell-another-lie-press-and-some-more-cursing/ What a day that was.

328. Oh, here's a shock-Billy Baloney Baroni's testimony was all made up-no kidding:P.A. cops: Baroni gave phony Bridgegate testimony to lawmakers:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/10/pa_cops_baroni_gave_phony_bridgegate_testimony_to.html#incart_most-commented_news_article But Bill thinks he's going to take the stand and charm his way out of this one.

* Just to be clear-Bridgegate trial: Port Authority cops say Baroni told them to lie:http://www.northjersey.com/news/bridgegate-trial-port-authority-cops-say-baroni-told-them-to-lie-1.1675309 Keep smiling Bill.

** I sure being a lackey for Christie was not Mr. Baroni's career goal-Bridgegate: Courtroom performances frame Bill Baroni’s career: http://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-state-news/bridgegate-courtroom-performances-frame-bill-baroni-s-career-1.1677219 I guess that explains the constant dopey look on his face.

329. The Prosecution rests-after 4 weeks of testimony it's time for the defense, let's see what they've got-Bridgegate: Prosecution rests case on infamous email :http://www.northjersey.com/news/bridgegate-prosecution-rests-case-on-infamous-email-1.1676638 I don't think the bombshells have finished falling.

Somehow this just doesn't sound very appetizing does it? In fact its pretty disgusting


330. I see said the blind man-Governor's chief counsel testifies he saw 'nothing nefarious' in Bridgegate: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/10/defense_in_bridgegate_trial_begins_their_case.html#incart_river_home Somehow this testimony just doesn't ring true. An interesting intersection between save yourself and save the king.

331. It took a citizens complaint to get to this-something that has been obvious to all of us-Judge finds probable cause in complaint against Christie over GWB lane closures:http://www.northjersey.com/news/judge-finds-probable-cause-in-complaint-against-christie-over-gwb-lane-closures-1.1676692 It may go nowhere but the headline sounds so good.

*A bit more on where things stand: As Bridgegate Prosecution Rests, Christie Faces Separate Criminal Complaint: http://www.wnyc.org/story/chris-christie-faces-criminal-misconduct-complaint/ Ends up to be a pretty damning commentary on the MIA State Attorney General's Office.

332. Billy Baloney Baroni takes the stand in a desperate attempt to extricate himself-Baroni testimony: I thought Bridgegate traffic study was legit : http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/10/i_believed_david_wildstein.html Wildstein made me do it!

*Explain this away Mr. Baroni-Prosecutors end Bridgegate case with combative video of Baroni testimony:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/10/prosecutors_in_bridgegate_trial_near_end_of_their.html Humina Humina.....

**What the hell is Baroni talking about? 6 surprises from Bill Baroni's Bridgegate testimony:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/10/highlights_of_bill_baronis_bridgegate_testimony.html Honest, he was just an innocent dupe!

***That dog don't hunt-Big day in Bridgegate: Baroni testimony gets nailed :http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/10/bridgegate_scandal_bill_baroni_shocker_moran.html Nice try Baroni.

333. Christie's close confidante Mike DuHaime takes the stand today and doesn't really do Mr. Christie any favors-Bridgegate witnesses 'don't recall' details following lane closures : http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20161021_Bridgegate_defense__Christie__Cuomo_talked_after_lane_closures.html He knows nothing-nothing!

334. Bridget Kelly takes the stand-and oh what a fine mess-Bridgegate: Kelly says she told Christie of GWB plan the day before she sent 'traffic problems' email : http://www.northjersey.com/news/bridgegate-kelly-says-she-told-christie-of-gwb-plan-the-day-before-she-sent-traffic-problems-email-1.1681115 KABOOM! Plus the testimony about Christie as an abusive boss was just disturbing.

* Chris Christie-What a guy!-Bridgegate defendant Bridget Kelly paints ex-boss Chris Christie as menacing loudmouth who threw water bottle at her amid GWB lane closures: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/bridget-kelly-christie-threw-bottle-gwb-study-article-1.2839935 Yeah, a real tough guy!

** An interesting day indeed-Five things we learned from Kelly's Bridgegate testimony today:http://www.northjersey.com/news/five-things-we-learned-from-kelly-s-bridgegate-testimony-today-1.1681300 And number six-Christie is a...oh I guess we didn't just learn that today.

*** Let Wildstein Handle it-he's a sneaky little shit just like you-Christie does Dean Wormer- In Bridget Kelly's Own Words: http://www.wnyc.org/story/bridget-kellys-own-words/ A summary of what she had to say today.

****The anatomy of a scapegoat-Bridgegate trial: Kelly says she feared she was being set up:http://www.northjersey.com/news/bridgegate-trial-kelly-says-she-feared-she-was-being-set-up-1.1682107 Nothing is ever anybody's fault around here.

*****It was all just a poor choice of words, doncha know-Kelly says she used 'poor choice of words' in infamous Bridgegate emails: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/10/hard_questions_for_bridgegate_defendant_as_trial_n.html#incart_2box_nj-homepage-featured When I said "time for some traffic problems" I didn't mean like traffic problems. Sheesh.

******Oh what a tangled web we weave......Cross-examination questions Kelly's timeline of fallout from GWB scandal: http://www.northjersey.com/news/cross-examination-questions-kelly-s-timeline-of-fallout-from-gwb-scandal-1.1682438 One more day of this-and then what will I do?

*******All good things come to an end-Defense rests in Bridgegate as prosecutors question Kelly's version of events:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/10/defense_rests_in_bridgegate_as_the_trial_winds_dow.html#incart_river_home_pop The defense may have rested but I don't get the impression that they're resting very well-if you know what I mean.

335. This is Christie's governing style-everything political, everything for his benefit-Bridgegate testimony offers a peek inside the IGA, Trenton’s ‘political shop’ :http://www.northjersey.com/news/bridgegate-testimony-offers-a-peek-inside-the-iga-trenton-s-political-shop-1.1681851 Your tax dollars at work!

336. Apparently calling Christie a bully just doesn't quite capture how bad he really is- At Bridgegate trial, Christie portrayed as something worse than a bully :http://www.northjersey.com/news/stile-bridgegate-trial-painting-christie-as-anything-but-not-a-bully-1.1682350 A political goon-That has a nice ring to it.

337. As the trial ends, an important ruling-Bridgegate trial: Prosecution doesn't need to prove motivation behind GWB lane closures:http://www.northjersey.com/news/bridgegate-trial-prosecution-doesn-t-need-to-prove-motivation-behind-gwb-lane-closures-1.1682836 It doesn't really matter why they did it, just that they did it.

When you told the governor about closing the lanes did he let out a happy laugh or an evil laugh?


338. Over? Did you say over? Chris Christie Is Over:http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/10/chris-christie-is-over/505241/ Nothing is over until we say it is!

339. Chris Christie didn't just go down in flames himself-Chris Christie's epic collapse:http://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2016/10/bridgegate-christies-parting-gift-to-new-jersey-republicans-106757 “I think Chris Christie has destroyed the Republican Party in New Jersey for a generation,” said Seton Hall political science professor Matt Hale

340. You think Kelly & Baroni are singing Me and My Shadow?- Gov. Christie’s Shadow Over Bridgegate:http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/27/opinion/gov-christies-shadow-over-bridgegate.html That's a mighty big shadow.

341. A brief delay before the closing arguments. I wonder what they were talking about-After delay, prosecutors expected to begin closing arguments in Bridgegate trial :http://www.northjersey.com/news/after-delay-prosecutors-expected-to-begin-closing-arguments-in-bridgegate-trial-1.1683639 Well, now it's time to wait.

* Oh the tension-Evidence Is In, Jury Will Soon Be Out:http://www.wnyc.org/story/five-takeaways-bridgegate-testimony-wraps/ There's got to be more than 5 takeaways.

342. The summations begin. The prosecutor makes the most simple and straight-forward argument possible: Prosecutor: Bridgegate defendants were 'loyal lieutenants' of Christie : http://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2016/10/prosecutors-in-closing-say-bridgegate-defendants-were-loyal-lieutenants-of-christie-106849 “They never attempted to separate politics from their jobs in public service.”

* Of course the defense sees it differently-Bridgegate trial: Dueling portraits of Bill Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly: http://www.northjersey.com/news/bridgegate-trial-dueling-portraits-of-bill-baroni-and-bridget-anne-kelly-1.1683923 Please, please please believe my client no matter how bad his testimony sounds.

**I'm not sure this is a great argument for the defense-Baroni attorney takes aim at key Bridgegate witness in closing argument :http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/10/baroni_attorney_takes_aim_at_key_bridgegate_witnes.html#incart_river_home But then again it might be all he's got.

***Mr. Critchley's turn on behalf of Bridget Kelly-Doh!- Bridgegate defense mocks Christie in courthouse where he built his reputation : http://www.northjersey.com/news/stile-bridgegate-defense-mocks-christie-in-courthouse-where-he-built-his-reputation-1.1685721 Coward! Bully! Liar! That's a trifecta for Mr. Christie.

****What will the jury be considering? Bridgegate jury begins deliberations: What are the charges?:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/11/bridgegate_jury_deliberations_what_are_the_charges.html#incart_river_home The right person isn't on trial just yet.

*****And now it's in the hands of the jury-Bridgegate trial: Case lies in hands of the jurors :http://www.northjersey.com/news/bridgegate-trial-case-lies-in-hands-of-the-jurors-1.1685373 Just have to wait. Hopefully it will be worth it.

343. Dissed in his old stomping grounds! Christie cast in new role on his old turf: http://www.northjersey.com/news/stile-christie-cast-in-new-role-on-his-old-turf-1.1685721 Not quite humiliated enough yet.

344. Whatever the cost, it isn't enough-What the Bridgegate Scandal Cost Gov. Christie:http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/11/03/opinion-what-the-bridgegate-scandal-cost-gov-christie/ and whatever the cost it pales in comparison with what he cost the State of New Jersey.

345. And speaking of costs...hmmmm-Christie's Taxpayer-Funded Lawyers Increase Work on Bridgegate Case:http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/11/03/christie-s-taxpayer-funded-lawyers-increase-work-on-bridgegate-case $14 million for a bogus report that paid off his dear friend to investigate him while also getting a substantial amount kicked back as campaign donations. Thank you suckers...I mean NJ taxpayers.

346. In all honesty, I didn't think I would ever make this entry-Bridgegate verdict: Bill Baroni and Bridget Kelly guilty on all counts: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/11/bridgegate_verdict_bill_baroni_and_bridget_kelly_g.html Hopefully this will not be the end of the story (or the Christie Crime Digest!)

347. Let's take a trip back in time-This is a far more interesting read today than it was 3 years ago-Road Warrior: Closed tollbooths a commuting disaster : http://www.northjersey.com/news/new-york-tri-state-area/road-warrior-closed-tollbooths-a-commuting-disaster-1.639923 How different this all looks today. Wish I knew then what I know now.

348. The obituaries keep pouring in-The Bridgegate trial is over. So is Chris Christie’s political career, probably.:https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/04/the-bridgegate-trial-is-over-so-is-chris-christies-political-career-probably/ Not enough!

*The hits keep coming-Is New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's political career over?:http://www.nj.com/trending/2016/11/is_new_jersey_gov_chris_christ.html#incart_river_home I like the opportunity to post with the hashtag #Christieistoast !

**Hopefully the answer to this question is many sleepless nights and an ulcer-What the Bridgegate guilty verdict means for Chris Christie :http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/11/what_the_bridgegate_guilty_verdict_means_for_chris.html Oh, and a lifetime of disgrace for good measure.

349. This is a really compelling read-Tears, doubts, heated debate in Bridgegate jury room: http://www.northjersey.com/news/tears-doubts-heated-debate-in-bridgegate-jury-room-1.1688069?page=all Restores some faith in the concept that ordinary people can make a difference.

Are you smiling now Bridget? I didn't think so.


350.Hopefully its not over until the "fat lady" sings-In Bridgegate trial, Christie is the culprit who got away: http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/11/in_bridgegate_trial_christie_is_revealed_as_the_ba.html And the fat man squeals.

* This juror came to the conclusion that most of us have-Bridgegate juror: Christie should have been on trial:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/11/bridgegate_juror_christie_should_have_been_on_tria.html I'm not holding my breath but it would be nice-and it would be the right thing to do.

** The jury was definitely on to him-2nd Bridgegate juror said she believes Christie was involved, report says: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/11/2nd_bridgegate_juror_suspects_christie_involvement_1.html Lock Him Up!

351. At least he remains popular with the people of New Jersey-Christie's approval rating hits record low in N.J., poll finds : http://www.northjersey.com/news/christie-s-approval-rating-hits-record-low-in-n-j-poll-finds-1.1688848 19% and falling -Wow!

352.Christie on the beach-Christie tans while Island Beach homeowners burn:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2017/07/christie_tans_while_island_beach_homeowners_burn_d.html What a complete horse's ass-but we already knew that.

353. Christie fights with a Cubs fan-oh brother-Let's settle this in the ring, Cubs fan tells Chris Christie:http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-christ-christie-fight-cubs-0802-chicago-inc-20170801-story.html I'd pay to see that fight.

354. Christie's approval rating hits 15%-Chris Christie’s Low Approval Rating Just Broke an All-Time Low: https://poll.qu.edu/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=2494 Does this mean that he knows every single person who approves of him?

355.He just can't help himself-just an ass- Testy Gov. Chris Christie argues with voter outside NJ polling place: http://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/testy-nj-gov-chris-christie-argues-voter-polling/story?id=50987973 One last parting shot.

I don't get no respect-no respect at all....



I'm on the beach and you're not!




When you told the governor about closing the lanes did he let out a happy laugh or an evil laugh?

The story doesn't end here folks! Go to Christie Crime Digest Vol. II, Christie Crime Digest Vol. III-The Prosecution! and Christie Crime Digest Vol. IV-The Trial for more!

Damn You Christie Crime Digest! Why Won't You Leave Me Alone? When I'm President You're Dead!

[Kelvin Mace]

1. And remember...

"The future us where you and I will be spending the rest of our lives!"

I love Criswell.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

40. Maybe he should have consulted Chriswell himself!

From today's Star-Ledger. Paul Mulshine, their conservative columnist:

Christie’s supporter are trying to blame his enemies. But they might as well try to blame his horoscope. I just looked it up for Sept. 9, 2013: "Be careful with behind-the-scenes activity, especially if you’re doing something secretive or sneaky because things will not go as smoothly as you hope."

http://blog.nj.com/njv_paul_mulshine/2014/01/chris_christie_a_caesar_who_fe.html#incart_m-rpt-2

I guess Christie is a Virgo:

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Be careful with behind-the-scenes activity, especially if you're doing something secretive or sneaky because things will not go as smoothly as you hope. Something will catch you up or stop you. Just be aware of this. Forewarned is forearmed.

Hah!

[Scuba]

2. Nice compilation. Thanks Laxman.

[GP6971]

3. Bookmarked for later. n/t

[ProSense]

4. Here's a good one:

Embattled Port Authority Still Fighting Toll Hike Lawsuit

Mark J. Magyar

While political attention remains riveted on the Bridge-gate scandal that forced the resignation of Gov. Christie’s top two lieutenants at the Port Authority, the bistate agency remains embroiled in a lawsuit challenging the legality of its massive multiyear toll hike. At the heart of the suit is the allegation that toll revenue is being illegally diverted from transportation projects to pay for billions of dollars in cost overruns on the World Trade Center project...the Port Authority has been battling to block the release of documents showing its internal deliberations leading up to its controversial September 2011 decision -- jammed through after just one day of hearings -- to raise tolls on the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels; George Washington, Bayonne and Goethals bridges; and the Outerbridge Crossing from $8 then to $13 today and $15 by 2015.


<...>

The Port Authority cited the $11 billion cost of rebuilding the World Trade Center as a major fiscal liability in its 2011 press release announcing its decision to seek a toll increase from $8 to $15 on its six bridges and tunnels. Based on that statement, Genovese said, the AAA expected to win a summary judgment on its lawsuit contending that the Port Authority was illegally diverting toll revenues to non-transportation purposes.

But the Port Authority backed off that tack in its response to the AAA lawsuit, insisting that no toll money would be going to the World Trade Center project. The authority asserted that its interstate transportation network, which includes the money-losing Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) rail line, operates at an overall deficit, even with all toll revenue from the six bridges and tunnels included, and therefore no toll money is being diverted to the World Trade Center...that was before Port Authority officials acknowledged that the cost of the World Trade Center project had ballooned from $11 billion to $15 billion -- a massive increase considering that Christie cancelled the Access to the Region’s Core (ARC) rail passenger tunnel project in 2010 because he feared that cost overruns could hit $3 billion.

<...>

Christie diverted $1.8 billion of the $3 billion the Port Authority originally set aside for the ARC Tunnel to provide some of the matching funds he needed to underwrite a five-year $8 billion Transportation Trust Fund plan without raising gas taxes in 2011.

- more -

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/01/06/embattled-port-authority-still-fighting-toll-hike-lawsuit

[Laxman]

5. Thank You For Adding That...

that is perhaps the most damaging of them all. The long term effects of stalling this project (even though the ARC Tunnel plan was flawed, the money could have been re-purposed for the Gateway Tunnel in partnership with Amtrak) will have repercussions for a generation. I've updated the digest to make it an even dozen.

[monmouth3]

7. Let us not forget the DMV in Elizabeth. I'm still "sauced" over that one..LOL...n/t

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

12. But I read that it wasn't political!

Mike "the mouthpiece" Drewniak said so!

[Cha]

37. Brawawaaaaaaaaa

[flamingdem]

16. That one will take a toll

on Christie

[malaise]

30. Oh My!!

Oops!! This is serious.

[90-percent]

6. A Rachel fact I'm obsessed over

The average salary of the 7,000 employee Port Authority is $140,000.

-90% Jimmy

[Beach Rat]

8. Thanks for putting it all in one place!

Now the people here can know what its been like to go out to dinner with you for the past few months.

[Ninga]

9. Great job, appreciate the time it took you to compile the links. Most helpful.

[Laxman]

11. You're Welcome...

Bernardo De La Paz inspired me to post this!

(It also didn't take all that long-I just get more and more ticked off at this guy as each day passes!)

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. Recommended and now kicked. Thanks! nt

[rocktivity]

13. Two more

13. The air pollution monitor closest to the George Washington bridge shut off at the height of the Ft. Lee lane closures (a working monitor would have raised the alarm to the Department of Environmental Protection that the pollution levels were too high, probably triggering the re-opening of the Fort Lee lanes): http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/01/22/air-monitors-see-spike-in-pollution-during-bridgegate

14. The Christie administration has fired the contractor in charge of handing out Sandy relief money for the state -- without announcing it to the public: http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2014/01/christie_officials_fire_sandy.html


Feel free to copy and paste into your OP. You're welcome.


rocktivity

[Laxman]

17. It All Too Much...

can't believe I forgot this: http://articles.philly.com/2014-01-26/news/46605322_1_housing-recovery-contract-housing-assistance-program

The hits just keep coming! Thanks for adding those.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

14. This could fill an entire issue!

Anyone with Photoshop talents care to take a shot at "Chritieizing" this cover?

[Laxman]

34. The Guy On The Cover...

kind of looks like Christie already!

[otohara]

15. Christie Blows - My Gawd

he's corrupt to the core.

Thanks for this post!

[classof56]

18. K&R for future reference.

Right now my head is spinning. O.M.G!

[rocktivity]

23. Nothing puts a 'smoking gun' in Christie's hand (as of yet)

but there are too many smoking guns pointing right AT him. All of this was the work of a dozen different rouge employees who did not report directly to him? Not bloody likely!


rocktivity

[Marcuse]

19. Don't forget wasting $24 Million on the October special election

Remember Christie didn't want to face Booker voters so he vetoed a bill which would have held both the gubernatorial and senate elections on November 5, citing "voter confusion". The real scandal is that many of his antics will be found to be legal.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/10/16/nyregion/a-wednesday-election-for-new-jersey.html

[Beach Rat]

20. When will we hear "No Mas!"

Down Goes Christie! Down Goes Christie!

[malaise]

170. Not at this press conference

but we're getting some contradictions

[ReRe]

21. K&R

He's a dirty rat.

[Exciting Trip]

22. How many charges does he face...

For these crimes?

[rocktivity]

25. Extorting with federal funds is certainly a crime

And if there's reason to believe that he knew of or masterminded Bridge(t)-gate, that's abuse of power at best and flat out racketeering at worst. All the rest is impeachable enough to keep him away from the White House if not get him out of Trenton.


rocktivity

[Exciting Trip]

43. What is the reason that he hasn't been charged?

In your opinion?

[rocktivity]

44. Goodness Gracious, but the investigation has JUST begun!

Last edited Tue Jan 28, 2014, 08:44 PM - Edit history (3)

The subpoenas aren't due to be returned for at least another week. Which way the resulting investigations go will depend upon on what they do or don't produce. Patience, grasshopper!


rocktivity

[Exciting Trip]

48. Is it your prediction that Christie will be charged with a crime or crimes?

And if he is not charged, will you argue that he is a criminal anyway?

[rocktivity]

50. Since I believe that it's DOING something criminal that makes you a criminal

Last edited Wed Jan 29, 2014, 12:42 PM - Edit history (4)

-- not being charged, convicted, or punished for it afterward -- I will certainly make the argument that Christie is a criminal if it is confirmed that he has indeed done criminal things. Of course, there are degrees of criminality. What's unethical and what's immoral are set to a lower standard, with a different kind of punishment. As of now, it looks like Christie has done all of the above: acted illegally, unethically, and immorally.

As for my prediction, it looks as though the state-level investigation is already compromised. Thankfully, Christie was unable to promote his chief of staff to the position of attorney general (who could has easily squashed this whole thing months ago). But there is a member of the state "super"-investigative committee whose name has turned up in the emails, so he will be effectively investigating himself. But if Christie skates because the investigation is botched or rigged, that won't make him any less of a criminal in my eyes, either.


rocktivity

[Exciting Trip]

51. Wow. The investigation didn't last long before you reached a conclusion

Actualy, it didn't last at all!

Fortunately for Christie, you won't be in charge of determining criminality.

[rocktivity]

52. It's VERY fortunate for Christie that I don't determine criminality.

Last edited Wed Jan 29, 2014, 04:30 PM - Edit history (2)

And for Bush. And Cheney. And Hitler. And the inventors of light beer. And Paris Hilton.


rocktivity

[Laxman]

53. Being Fair-minded & Temperate....

is certainly a virtue. However there is a well established pattern that the governor has worked hard to create. There is ample evidence that he allowed his ego to cloud his judgement to the point where he and his inner circle felt immune. Taking mayor Zimmer's story,even with limited details, into account, they crossed the line from power politics to illegal activity. If you're merely being cautious then say so. If you're here to defend him & his crew then make your case. There is a pile of at least circumstantial evidence in the original post here. Are there rational innocent explanations for all of this?

[rocktivity]

54. For the record, I think he should be charged and am cautiously optimistic that he will be

ONLY because there is SO MUCH circumstantial evidence. But if it it's hard to tell whether I'm being overly cautious or knee-jerk defensive, I must be doing SOMETHING right!


rocktivity

[La Lioness Priyanka]

74. time. nt

[Laxman]

27. Just Curious?

or do you believe that he will skate free? Or don't you see the potential violations that this behavior represents? Or do you think that none of this is all that big a deal?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

75. also i doubt your trip here will be exciting. or long. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

24. k&r

[barbtries]

26. this is a public service,

i hope it gets more exposure than just DU. thank you

[flamingdem]

28. bookmarked

[malaise]

29. This definitely deserves a

holy facting shite!!

Thanks for all the links Laxman - Damn!

[malaise]

31. So was that email from Wildstein to O'Toole ReTHUG NJ Senator

O'Toole who is on the investigative committee - shouldn't he step down from the committee as Rev Al is suggesting.

[Laxman]

32. Do These Three Things Go Together.....

some curious behavior by the good senator. O'Toole does not belong on this committee for a number of reasons but here are three things that at least raise the appearance of impropriety:

Wisniewski said his curiosity was piqued further still when immediately after the presentation, state Sen. Kevin O’Toole (R-Essex), one of Christie’s staunchest allies in the Legislature, issued a news release concurring with Baroni’s assertion that it was unfair for Fort Lee to have three dedicated toll lanes. Wisniewski found it curious that O’Toole’s release incorporated some of the same obscure E-ZPass statistics cited by Baroni, who told the committee he did not have the statistics in written form and could not submit them at that time.

and....

Sen. Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex) said there was no hurry for the Senate to act; the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Port Authority's Inspector General and the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce are investigating the matter separately. "We should all be very, very careful of drawing conclusions now," O'Toole said before the vote. "I would suggest...that we should wait."

and...

O'Toole's name is mentioned in passing in one of the emails released last week.

Christie's spokesman Michael Drewniak and David Wildstein, the port authority’s director of interstate capital projects, exchanged emails on Dec. 5. Wildstein thanks Drewniak "for all of your sound advice last night, I always appreciate your friendship. Spoke with O'Toole this morning and he will talk with you later today."

Wildstein resigned the next day day.

O'Toole said in a brief interview after the hearing he did not recall that conversation with Wildstein, but added he and his office regularly speak to Wildstein and Port Authority officials to respond to a constituent complaint or questions. He said he did not speak to Wildstein the Assembly's ongoing investigation into the George Washington Bridge lane closures.

"I don't know what that means," O'Toole said of the email exchange.

All very curious.

[malaise]

33. At the very least he should recuse himself

All very curious indeed

[Laxman]

35. Well Rachel Certainly Picked Up...

on these three elements as well as the close relationship between O'Toole & Christie.

[malaise]

41. She was great

i posted her link earlier this morning

[rocktivity]

45. DING DING DING! Malaise, you're our grand prize winner!

Last edited Tue Jul 7, 2015, 04:13 PM - Edit history (7)

At the very least he should recuse himself...

When my sister and I were at the same college, I was asked to help interview students who wanted to become dormitory monitors. I immediately said no -- not because I didn't want to do it, but because my sister had told me she was considering going after one of those positions. Though I was just out of my teens, I didn't need to go sit on a mountain for forty days and nights and have it written on tablets of stone that it might "look funny" if my sister got a dorm monitor position from a committee that I was a member of!

According to this article, Senate President Stephen Sweeney (a reputed NJ DINO), isn't going to do anything about it: he said he

respects Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr.'s decision to select O'Toole to be the lone Republican senator on the 12-member investigative committee. "There is a certain amount of power the Senate President has and you don't go beyond."

Which might be acceptable except that Tom Kean Jr. is the son of Christie's mentor...


rocktivity

[Laxman]

46. O'Toole & Christie...

are tight. Tom Kean Jr. & Christie, not so much. There was an interesting little drama that played out this fall. Steve Sweeney, the democratic Senate leader from Gloucester County was up for re-election. Tom Kean Jr., the Senate minority leader, was also the head of the Republican Senate campaign committee. He poured a lot of money into the coffers of Sweeney's opponent. This ticked Sweeney off and he went to Christie in an attempt to "get even" with Kean for making him run a harder campaign that normal. Christie saw it as is chance to both make a deal with Sweeney and get his good buddy O'Toole in as the Senate Minority leader. The problem is they didn't count the votes before selection and Kean was able to hold on to the leadership position. Tom Kean Sr. lambasted Christie after that incident.

"I mean, you have a guy who's threatened with being kicked out — for doing his job!" Patrick Murray, the Monmouth University political scientist, told Business Insider. "It's just nuts."

Murray is referring to Tom Kean Jr., the New Jersey Republican state senator who — with arm-twisting from newly re-elected Gov. Chris Christie — was almost forced out of his job as the state Senate's Minority Leader.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-christie-tom-kean-o-toole-election-2016-steve-sweeney-2013-11#ixzz2rkQGLUiv

Tom Kean Jr. would be a good addition, but Sweeney would never let him be part of the committee.

[rocktivity]

102. Rachel Maddow just said that O'Toole has a subopena in his future

whether he recuses himself or not.


rocktivity

[Laxman]

103. I Believe That You....

are enjoying this way too much !

Did you happen to read this? http://enviropolitics.wordpress.com/2014/02/18/your-tax-dollars-at-work-or-not/

The guy who wrote this is a really good friend of mine. We had dinner together tonight and I heard some very interesting feedback from a FEMA person from last summer. Seems even the Feds working in the state were pushed around by Christie's crew.

[rocktivity]

104. I guess turnabout is fair play, LOL

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4465153

P.S. I've also been discussing this on an international message board, and found someone who says her husband works for the PA. But once things started heating up, she abruptly stopped posting!


rocktivity

[Cha]

36. Thanks Laxman.. bookmarking!

[Corruption Inc]

38. Maybe one day this country will start holding criminals accountable

Till then it's just an open invitation to every crook like Christie there is and every proud-to-be-stupid voter who supports all their crimes.

[Laxman]

39. From The Michelle Brown Article...

Michelle Brown and Kevin O'Dowd, both high ranking appointees in the Christie administration have been riding the taxpayer gravy train for quite some time. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?

Additional records provided in raw form by the Corzine campaign and analyzed by The Times show that Ms. Brown accompanied Mr. Christie on 16 trips, the bulk of them in 2007 and 2008. They were often accompanied by a junior prosecutor, Kevin O’Dowd.

In August 2008 Mr. Christie’s wife, Mary Pat, joined him, Ms. Brown, and Mr. O’Dowd for a trip to London, where Mr. Christie spoke at a meeting of compliance officers at another one of the companies involved in his office’s investigation of makers of artificial hips and knees. Mr. O’Dowd left early, while the Christies and Ms. Brown stayed two more days for another meeting. Mr. Christie paid his wife’s airfare, but the government covered the couple’s and Ms. Brown’s $401-per-night lodgings. Mr. O’Dowd declined comment.
Mr. Christie and Ms. Brown also traveled to the Venetian casino hotel in Las Vegas last year, where he addressed a sales convention of still another one of the hip and knee makers.

Mr. Christie’s in-state travel has also been questioned. He put in for more than $20,000 in mileage reimbursements during his seven-year tenure, including many trips that his public schedules indicate were made for personal or political reasons.

A die-hard Mets fan, Mr. Christie put in for $73 in mileage costs for a drive to Philadelphia on a night his schedule noted an away game against the Phillies.

[rocktivity]

42. There's always room for one more

Last edited Wed Jan 29, 2014, 03:09 PM - Edit history (4)

15. Hearings Loom On Decision To Leave One Third Of New Jersey Transit Trains In Hoboken And Kearney During Sandy (resulting in $120M in damaged trains and equipment - part of the Hoboken Shakedown?): http://www.northjersey.com/news/Senate_panel_to_hold_hearings_on_NJ_Transit_decision_to_leave_third_of_fleet_in_Hoboken_Kearny_during_Sandy__.html

16: The Belleville Red Herring: After its mayor endorsed Christie, Belleville got $6M in federal Sandy money -- for senior housing not affected by the storm: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/questions_raised_about_christies_use_of_sandy_funds_to_build_complex_in_town_where_mayor_endorsed_hi.html

16A: Within two weeks, Belleville also got a 19-acre no-bid development deal for a friend of Christie's who was cut out of the Ft. Lee development deal: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/questions_raised_about_christies_use_of_sandy_funds_to_build_complex_in_town_where_mayor_endorsed_hi.html/post/2014-01-28/1390950773-7-964.html

17: Slurping at the Harrison NJ trough - a $250M development deal has financial ties to Christie's bother Todd, as well as his Port Authority pal David Sampson (who voted for the project): http://www.northjersey.com/news/Governors_brother_invested_in_houses_near_new_PATH_station_in_Harrison.html



rocktivity

[Laxman]

47. Yet Another Chapter...

Christie Loyalist To Run Ethics Panel That Would Get Bridgegate Complaints

The state Ethics Commission, which would rule on any ethics complaints against state officials in Bridgegate or other Christie administration scandals, yesterday approved Gov. Chris Christie’s recommendation for its new executive director -- Susana Espasa Guerrero, a former governor’s counsel who served in the governor's office with all nine Christie aides subpoenaed in Bridgegate.

Guerrero previously spent eight years working in the law firm of Christie’s most trusted political adviser, William Palatucci, overlapping with Christie’s last four months as a partner at the firm before taking office as U.S. Attorney.

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/01/29/christie-loyalist-to-run-ethics-commission-that-would-field-bridgegate-complaints/

[malaise]

49. Shameless scumbags

Can they spell the word ethics?

[rocktivity]

55. Sounds like another federal subpoena is in order. n/t

rocktivity

[Laxman]

59. I Don't Even Know What To Do...

with the article about the lawyer who is accusing Zimmer of perjury. A fine upstanding member of the bar. Idiot held a press conference with a picture of him & Christie on the bookcase behind him.

So why the vitriol?

Well Zayas is sitting on a million dollar verdict bonanza courtesy of a Jersey City jury (no Hoboken residents were on the panel) in the Alicea discrimination lawsuit and the City is showing every intention of appealing it - tying up a huge payday to him and his client.

In addition, Zayas' other client, Carmelo Garcia was humiliated seeing a questionable obviously politically motivated civil case thrown out of court on the first pass in Hudson County Superior Court. The "ethnic cleansing" aspect of the case brought national attention on Hoboken and is a stain on both Carmelo Garcia and Louis Zayas.

In the filing, Zayas and Garcia claimed Mayor Dawn Zimmer sought to implement a competing Vision 20/20 plan - where none exists.

Has Hoboken heard the last of this and Louis Zayas? Absolutely not. The political-public aspects are clear. Carmelo Garcia was handed a position for NJ assembly on the machine line courtesy of State Senator Brian Stack, a staunch Gov. Christie backer.

http://www.hobokenhorse.com/2014/01/ethnic-cleansing-attorney-louis-zayas.html

[rocktivity]

56. This just in

19: "Rockefeller Group, a real estate developer whose proposed office complex in Hoboken, N.J...has terminated its contract with the firm Wolff & Samson." But as long as the firm's founder David Sampson still has a job with the Port Authority, does it really matter? http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/31/nyregion/hoboken-site-developer-dismisses-law-firm.html


rocktivity

[Laxman]

58. This Is An Excellent Development....

thanks for adding this. I can almost guarantee that Rockefeller knows something. They are a global player. Samson is only their Jersey guy-a big fish in a small pond. He's a big shot in these parts but he's a pimple on Rockefeller's butt in the big picture. They had people in meetings with Samson and state and local officials. They're going to play the "shocked" card at the conduct of their attorneys, but they definitely know something. Things are really going to start happening!

[arely staircase]

57. great work

Thanks

[longship]

60. Laxman does "All Things Christie"

Ex-cellent! This is very good work.

Wish I could give it a thousand DUrecs.

This is what DU is all about!



Bookmarked!!!!

Keep on keeping on, Laxman, Rocketivity, and all the rest of you!

[malaise]

62. It's a fabulous resource link

[Spazito]

61. Excellent work, great resource!

Thanks for all your work on this, it is much appreciated!

[rocktivity]

63. I'm Gonna Write A Little Letter, Gonna Send It To My Local DA

Roll over on Christie
To keep me out of jail today!

20. Through his lawyer, Wildstein claims to have proof that Christie knew all about it (Hints at PA Legal Fees and/or Immunity): http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/02/01/nyregion/bridge-letter.html


rocktivity

[Beach Rat]

64. I keep staring at that picture waiting for Chriswell's head to explode!

It looks like its getting near the time to start shouting Down goes Christie! Down goes Christie!

[Laxman]

69. And Remember My Friends....

future events such as these will effect YOU in the future!

You just can't argue with logic like that.

[LiberalEsto]

65. The New Brunswick apartment tower that got $4.8 million in Sandy relief funds

New Brunswick is miles from the shore and got minimal damage.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024423240

Tower was built by developer Boraie. Shaquille O'Neal has invested in Boraie projects, though it's not known if he invested in this one. However, O'Neal endorsed Christie.

[Laxman]

67. That Is Part Of A Much Larger Issue....

as I posted on your thread. But yes, that belongs here. I will add it. I think I will also do a post on the whole issue of re-purposing Sandy money in an attempt to get around HUD policies. I've been meaning to do that but have had some personal issues that have kept me from having time at the keyboard for an extended period. Thank you for bringing it up!

[MadashellLynn]

66. My submission to your list...Stronger that the Storm

Spending federal tax monies for Sandy recovery on a 4 million dollar re-election ad with his family instead of 2 million for one without his ugly mug in it. 4 million could have rebuilt a lot of homes for the poor rubes who voted for him.

[Laxman]

68. That's Number 6 On The List.....

but a good one. That money was actually earmarked for things like commercials and it is common practice for a portion of recovery funds to be devoted to expenses like this. But in NY for example, they were more generic in promoting NY & LI tourism. Here, they a) didn't go to the lowest bidder and b) were these weird campaign like ads featuring him and his family. In fact, that's why the firm got picked, because they intended to use them in the ad campaign.

There's a good argument that seeing Christie's family on the beach was quite frightening (a cheap shot) and that stupid song that just played over and over. Make it stop!

[MadashellLynn]

70. You are

spot on about those commercials being scary. His wife with that inappropriate grin of her's creeps me out every time I see her.

[Oilwellian]

82. I bet she's not grinning now

K&R

[Laxman]

71. I Had A Lot Of Interaction....

with this administration. From Day One it was obvious they were looking for total control of the huge pot of Sandy money and were scheming to maintain as much influence as possible (with total control their goal). It was clear that their intent was not to recover the best way possible. In fact, it seemed that any public good that came from this injection of funds would be purely coincidental. This article from the post by HighplainsDem http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/02/christie_took_10_months_to_implement_federal_sandy_aid_law.html is evidence of that intention. So we have entry number 22 to the Christie Crime Digest. (thanks HighPlainsDem)

[Laxman]

73. Different David Macks...

David A is developing the Clara Maas property, David S. is the Port Authority commissioner and director of real estate giant Mack Cali.

However, the Belleville Senior complex was a favor to the Belleville mayor, Essex County Executive Joe DeVincenzo and North Ward power broker Steve Adubato. Ever wonder why the vote totals from Essex were so low in the gubernatorial election?

[Laxman]

76. I Can't Believe I Forgot About...

the 1994 defamation suite where he blatantly lied about his opponents in the Morris County Freeholders race. Check out this description of that episode:

People have very low opinions of political advertising, and justifiably so. But blatantly false political ads are actually pretty rare. For one, political rhetoric is so flexible, and factual standards so ambiguous, that there is no reason to make obviously false statements in an ad. You can impugn an opponent's character thousands of ways before it's ever necessary to resort to a clearly, demonstrably, factually false claim. Saying your opponents are under investigation by a local prosecutor when they are not is obviously dishonest. But saying it on television is also a little nutty. Was that potentially self-damaging lie really his only chance of winning?

You can watch the 1994 Christie ad here. There is something else unusual about it. Christie is seated on a sofa next to his wife and baby as he defames his two opponents. (They subsequently sued Christie, who issued an apology two years later.) Who does that? Who holds his baby and then turns to the camera to lie flagrantly?

Who said past results are not indicative of future performance? This was close to an all-time low.

And of course there was this article in the Washington Post complete with a link to the slimeball Christie campaign ad: Chris Christie’s 1994 ad was too tough (and inaccurate) for Jersey: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/chris-christies-1994-ad-was-too-tough-and-inaccurate-for-jersey/2014/01/19/b69f0d86-7ef8-11e3-93c1-0e888170b723_story.html

[malaise]

77. Kick

You might need a Volume 2

[Spazito]

78. Yet another resignation today...

Christie administration staffer resigns amid lane closures probe

A member of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's administration who has been subpoenaed in the investigation of the September bridge lane closures has resigned.

Christina Genovese Renna — one of 17 people with ties to Christie subpoenaed by a legislative panel — exited the governor's office Friday, according to a statement provided to NBC News on Sunday by her lawyer, Henry Klingeman.

In the statement, Renna said her resignation "reflects a decision I have been considering since shortly after the election." Christie won a second term in office in November.

Renna reported to Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie's since-fired deputy chief of staff, who apparently set the traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge in motion with an email to David Wildstien, a Christie appointee and ally at the Port Authority.

more

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/02/02/22548092-christie-administration-staffer-resigns-amid-lane-closures-probe?lite

[malaise]

79. Oops!!

This week should be fun

[Spazito]

80. Between the kindergarten email and this latest resignation...

it should be fun indeed!

[malaise]

81. Tomorrow is also the deadline for subpoenas

although some folks have asked for extensions.


Christina Genovese Renna was part of the Kelly team. I need a spread sheet for this gang.

[Spazito]

83. I can only hope we find out who submitted documents, who is delaying it and...

who is refusing to submit any. Christie's future is looking more and more like nj transit did today, a massive failure, lol.

[Laxman]

84. This Is Getting Interesting....

the events mentioned here , or something like this, will no doubt have been recorded in the activity logs or daily briefings for the governor.

Maddow said that Christie’s argument that his administration was unaware of the four-day closures, which were ordered by his deputy chief of staff, Bridget Anne Kelly, was undermined by an email Kelly received on Sept. 11 from state director of departmental relations Christine Genovese Renna. Renna mentions in the email that “Evan” — possibly meaning Christie aide Evan J. Ridley, who records show makes $52,000 a year — had been contacted by Mark Sokolich, mayor of Fort Lee, complaining about the traffic nightmare happening in his town as a result.

This is way more entertaining than the game!

[Spazito]

85. LOL, agree, way more entertaining than the game!

The drips are starting to become a rather steady stream.

[Laxman]

86. For What Its Worth....

Last edited Mon Feb 3, 2014, 12:21 AM - Edit history (1)

she's married to Michael Renna, the President and Chief Operating Officer of South Jersey Energy Solutions, a subsidiary of South Jersey Industries. He also held senior executive positions with South Jersey Industries. Why is this important? The Pinelands Pipeline that the Christie administration tried to muscle through the Pinelands Commission (that's entry #2 above for everyone keeping score at home) was a project of ...wait for it...South Jersey Industries. Oh my! Conflict of interest anyone? And fear not for Ms. Genovese-Renna being without a job, Mr. Renna's income as reported by South Jersey Industries was approximately $662,514 last year. I think they'll scrape by.

Projects like the pipeline are 1000 times more damaging than the bridge caper in social terms. But it took the bridge incident to really shine the light on all of the other slimy critters running around this administration.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

87. I'm sure they never discussed business together!

I would be shocked to find that this relationship influenced the actions of the Christie administration. I'm certain they would have been happy to do South Jersey Industry's bidding and screw up the environment on their own. No improper relationships necessary!

[pnwmom]

89. Next time you write a post like this, put it in its own OP, please , so more people can see it.

Way to go, Laxman!

On edit: I just realized this was a reply to your own OP. Thanks for the Christie Crime Digest, Laxman. That's a very useful list.

[Laxman]

90. Thank You...

You're right, I probably should have done a new post on this as well. The story is certainly getting attention now!

[Beach Rat]

88. I just did a google search for a couple of names of the governor's staff

and right after the official link to the NJ state web site, the next link that came up was to the Christie Crime Digest! Holy cow. I wonder if the governor's folks Google themselves and find that link? That ought to make them sweat a bit!

[Laxman]

91. For Anyone Who Thinks...

that the Christie scandal is just about the bridge, think again! We're up to 25 separate entries here. That's 24 more than just the bridge. And we haven't even included the boorish behavior, the yelling incidents, the public humiliation of those who dared to disagree with him, the staged "made for YouTube" appearances to burnish his image as a straight-shooting tough guy, demeaning the independent state budget auditor for telling the truth and so much more. One's an anomaly, two's a coincidence, three's a pattern and 25, well there needs to be a new name for that!.

[malaise]

92. To be kind Christie is making Nixon look like

a baby

[Laxman]

93. From Chris Christie's Closet....

Todd Christie was the president of the Wall Street trading firm, Spear, Leeds & Kellogg. While Chris Christie was starting to make noise about running for Governor, the contributions from Todd Christie to various Republican causes went from a few thousand to over $400,000.00.

This amount of money was spread around on a large scale. He not only opened his own checkbook, according to newspaper articles he teamed up with his brother’s current campaign spokesman, Bill Palatucci, and current campaign fundraiser, Jon Hanson, to raise money for the George W. Bush’s campaign. Together, the three were after Bush’s “Super Ranger” status.

You can find the rest here: http://www.politickernj.com/humorme/28755/chris-christies-closet#.Ulb72rjVFo0.twitter

An insight into the financial elements to Christie's rise to prominence or "How My Brother's Money Made Me The U.S. Attorney" and how I kept him out of big trouble.

Also-check out how much money has poured into the Republican Governor's Association from players who stood to profit from the Pinelands Pipeline: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024442535#post30

[rocktivity]

94. Christie begins an "internal investigation" though he's his own prime suspect

27. Lawyers for Christie administration are seeking documents and a "private interview" from Hoboken mayor Dawn Zimmer. She has already given the documents to the Feds. As for the interview, she and her lawyer "question whether it is appropriate for the Governor’s Office, in essence, to be investigating itself..." http://www.northjersey.com/news/Lawyer_for_Christie_administration_seeking_documents_interview_with_Hoboken_mayor_.html


Since Zimmer says it was Christie's lieutenant governor Kim Guadagno who delivered the message, maybe she's the person he should start his internal investigation with:

Christie: "Did you tell Zimmer that I told you that she wouldn't get federal Sandy relief money unless she fast-tracked a project that my associates would have benefited from financially?"
Guadagno: "I don't know."

Christie: "DID I TELL YOU to tell Zimmer that she wouldn't get federal Sandy relief money unless she fast-tracked a project that my associates would have benefited from financially?"
Guadagno: "I don't know."

Christie: "Did I tell you that if I told you to tell Zimmer that she wouldn't get federal Sandy relief money unless she fast-tracked a project that my associates would have benefited from financially, we must deny it to our dying days?"
Guadagno: "I don't know."

Christie: "Well, that clears me, then -- internal investigation over!"

rocktivity

[Laxman]

95. I Don't Know...

I like that. I don't know Ms. Guadagno-will you be indicted? I don't know!

[malaise]

97. ROFL

[Laxman]

96. How Christie's Port Point Man Plays All Sides of Transit Deals

WNYC reports that just weeks before Gov. Chris Christie appointed Samson to his position at the Port Authority, Samson's law firm was hired as bond counsel by the South Jersey Transportation Authority, the agency that formerly ran the struggling airport and is chaired by state transportation commissioner James Simpson.

Over the next two years, Wolff & Samson reported earnings of $113,701.32 and is still currently retained by the South Jersey Transportation Authority, according to WNYC.

read here: http://www.wnyc.org/story/atlantic-city-airport-samson/?utm_source=Newsletter%3A+WNYC+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=6e75377c4d-Daily_Brief_Jan_27_20141_26_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_edd6b58c0d-6e75377c4d-70663857

[malaise]

98. Crony capitalism on steroids

and these crooks talk about corruption in developing countries?

[Laxman]

99. Some Intrepid Reporter.....

should chase this one down.

Using the U.S. Attorney's Office for revenge against his wife's former business partner? No way, that's so totally out of character for Christie!

Christopher Christie has been named in a federal tort claims lawsuit notice that asserts the GOP gubernatorial candidate “utilized his office as a collection agency for his relatives and extorted money from the claimant for the benefit of his family in violation of the Hobbs Act.”

Belleville attorney Frank Cozzarelli filed a civil claim with the U.S. Department of Justice on May 4, alleging that Christie threatened his livelihood because of an alleged vendetta.

One of the principals, Joseph Manello, was represented in the liquidation action by Chris Christie. Manello was unhappy with the settlement and as time went on, he became more disenchanted with Christie’s representation.

Subsequently, Manello was a major investor in a company called Mendham Capital and Mary Pat Christie, the wife of Chris Christie, was a partner in that firm. In 1997, Manello forced Christie’s wife out of her partnership position.

The claimant in this action was the subject of a federal investigation. This investigation was eventually closed by the government in the year 2000 when the US Attorney’s office, under Assistant US Attorney Michael Guadagno, declined to prosecute.

Inexplicably, after Chris Christie was appointed to the same position in 2002, an IRS investigation was initiated against the Claimant on the same case which the US Justice Department and the former US Attorney had declined to prosecute. So, why did one US Attorney close a case and decline to prosecute and another decide to re-open the exact same case that was closed out of the same office?

[Laxman]

100. Almost Too Slimy To Believe....

but then again, is there really anything that would fit into this category with this bunch? David Samson's firm represents the Bergen County Improvement Authority. They represent the Canadian developer seeking to build the horrendous American Dream mall at the Meadowlands. Samson partner Lori Griffa was the chairman of the Meadowlands Commission, the regulatory body controlling the mall site in her capacity as Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs. You can't make stuff like this up. How do they keep their law licenses?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/16/nyregion/post-scandal-future-unclear-for-port-authoritys-low-profile-leader.html?_r=0

Christie promised to change the way business is done in NJ. He kept that promise. He raised corruption to new heights (or depths). Somebody please save our state from this man.

And as always-remember the Wolff & Samson motto- Quad Est In Loco (The Fix is In)

[Tarheel_Dem]

101. Wow, Laxman, thanks for all the hard work. Bookmarking.

[rocktivity]

105. Thanks to: DUer Alp227

32. State investigative committee threatens implicated member Kevin O'Toole with a subpoena: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/02/bridge_investigation_committee_member_could_face_subpoena.html

And if O'Toole refuses, I hope they escalate it to a FEDERAL subpoena!


rocktivity

[malaise]

106. Rachel had a great section on this last night

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024519612#post14

[rocktivity]

107. BREAKING: The head of NJ Transit has resigned

Last edited Wed Feb 19, 2014, 06:06 PM - Edit history (1)

James Weinstein, appointed by Christie in 2010, is resigning from NJ Transit...(He)...was heavily criticized for poor planning during the Super Bowl, in which thousands of passengers were left stranded, and Superstorm Sandy, when commuter train cars were parked in an area that was later flooded by the storm: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/us-usa-train-newjersey-idUSBREA1I1GG20140219

rockivity

[Laxman]

108. Well, One Way To Keep Someone Quiet....

Is to give them a lucrative job. Nicole Crifo has landed a new gig with the Port Authority for $184,000 + /yr.!:

A former aide to Gov. Chris Christie who has been subpoenaed in the George Washington Bridge scandal, recently took a high-level job at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

ahh, but she was highly qualified!

“I recruited Nicole out of private practice back in 2011 because I was looking for somebody smart, tough and honest to work with me in the Authorities Unit,” Gramiccioni told The Star-Ledger. “I recruited her to the Port Authority because she proved herself to be a no-nonsense hard worker who scrutinized the board’s minutes for three years.”

an expert scrutinizer of minutes! What a skill. Highly in demand. Why develop any other skills?

Read here: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/02/former_christie_staffer_under_subpoena_takes_job_with_port_authority.html#incart_most-comments

I've got to get back to bed. I feel horrible.(has nothing to do with Christie )

[malaise]

109. Kick n/t

[Cha]

110. Here's to christie getting what he deserves!

[rocktivity]

111. The Romney-ization of David Samson

As the owner of Wolff and Sampson, David Samson got the rent reduced on a park-and-ride from $900,000 to one dollar per year for a client -- and collected more than $1.5M in fees. As the chairman for the Port Authority (which happens to own the land the park-and-ride is on) Samson voted in favor of the rent reduction. The client? New Jersey Transit. But before you start screaming "Unethical!!!", you'll be happy to know that he's arranged for his vote to be "retroactively" withdrawn, as he had "intended" to recuse himself: http://www.northjersey.com/news/New_Port_Authority_conflict_issue_emerges_NJ_Transit_got_1_lease_while_a_client_of_David_Samsons_law_firm.html?page=all

rocktivity

P.S. No word on whether Mr. Samson is planning to retroactively withdraw the $1.5M in fees.

[rocktivity]

112. Thanks to: DUer JHB

The president of the union that represents police officers for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who has come under increasing scrutiny in connection with the lane closings at the George Washington Bridge, told his membership on Thursday that he would step aside from the union’s day-to-day operations, a person briefed on the matter said.

The union president, Paul Nunziato, is among 30 people who have received subpoenas from a joint New Jersey legislative panel investigating allegations that access lanes to the bridge were shut down for four days by aides to Gov. Chris Christie as an act of political retribution. The lane closings are also the subject of a federal inquiry.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/21/nyregion/leader-of-port-authoritys-police-union-to-step-aside-amid-bridge-scandal.html?hpw&rref=nyregion&_r=0

rocktivity

[TexasTowelie]

113. Regarding item #16.

I believe that either Wednesday or Thursday on TRMS is said that the amount for Belleville was actually over $10 million. You might want to check the video on that though.

[Laxman]

114. You Are Correct....

Texas Towelie! It was upped to $10.2 million. You can read it here: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/02/nj_gives_more_federal_funds_to_controversial_belleville_project.html

Way to stay on top of things!

[Laxman]

115. 5 New Entries....

all just a part of an evil plot to get you to stop paying attention due to Christie fatigue! You can't get rid of us that easily!


33. Well one way to keep your underlings from turning on you is to give them lucrative jobs. Former Christie staffer under subpoena takes job with Port Authority (It only pays $184,000/yr.): http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/02/former_christie_staffer_under_subpoena_takes_job_with_port_authority.html#incart_most-comments

34. Chris Christie's lawyer for bridge scandal withdraws as Port Authority's counsel in separate lawsuit. (Conflict of interest is just business as usual for these scumba-I mean attorneys): http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/02/bridge_scandal_lawyer_for_christie_withdraws_as_port_authoritys_counsel_in_outside_lawsuit_observers.html#incart_river

35. New Port Authority conflict issue emerges: NJ Transit got $1 lease while a client of David Samson's law firm: http://www.northjersey.com/news/New_Port_Authority_conflict_issue_emerges_NJ_Transit_got_1_lease_while_a_client_of_David_Samsons_law_firm.html?page=all

36. Leader of Port Authority’s Police Union to Reduce Role Amid Bridge Scandal: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/21/nyregion/leader-of-port-authoritys-police-union-to-step-aside-amid-bridge-scandal.html?hpw&rref=nyregion&_r=0

37. Chris Christie's Mansion Fund Collected Millions From Political Favor Seekers-what a great idea! :http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/21/chris-christie-drumthwacket_n_4826459.html

[malaise]

118. I missed these

Thanks

[yortsed snacilbuper]

116. K&R

[Laxman]

117. It's Still Not Their Fault...

Richard Constable testified in front of a legislative oversight committee yesterday. Guess what? Its still everybody else's fault! This is a new entry in the making. We'll hold off posting an addition until they hang themselves on this issue. Meanwhile...here's some more rope!

NJ official heading Sandy recovery defends hiring firm, again blames feds for delays

The head of the New Jersey agency overseeing Hurricane Sandy housing recovery efforts today defended the hiring of a Louisiana firm that the state recently severed ties with following months of complaints, while repeating the assertion that federal red tape is slowing rebuilding.

New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Richard Constable said during wide-ranging testimony at a legislative hearing in Trenton that he couldn’t provide details about why the state quietly ended its three-year, $68 million contract with Hammerman & Gainer, Inc., or HGI, because of legal concerns. He said the Attorney’s General Office was in discussions with HGI's lawyers.

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/02/chris_christie_official_talks_sandy.html

[Laxman]

119. As I Said...

nothing is ever his fault. A commentary on the diversion of blame:

The problems with Sandy recovery didn’t just crop up overnight. First, the rules and regulations governing both the NFIP and the various homeowner’s assistance programs were in place at the outset of the recovery process. The inept handling of claims by the outside contractor certainly wasn’t in any way related to the Federal government. Complaining about measures to combat fraud or abuse is almost comical-particularly in light of the stories coming out of Hoboken and Belleville. The state’s problems originate with the state and its failure to put a rational and measured plan for recovery in place. As they say, the failure to plan is a plan for failure. We are now seeing the results of that failure.

If this were unforeseeable or a singular mistake these missteps could be excused. However, when this is viewed for what it is-a part of a greater pattern of behavior-its time for some accountability from the Christie administration. Trying to lay blame at the feet of everyone else is not only unseemly, it virtually guarantees that nothing will get fixed. Recovery from a disaster of the magnitude of Sandy is an enormous and incredibly complex undertaking. Governor Christie was obsessed with the opportunity for power and the chance to burnish his image as a strong leader that Sandy, and its billions in disaster aid, represented. However, he has proven that he and his administration were not up to the challenges posed in this recovery, either intellectually or morally. That may be a tough charge, but it has been earned.

read here: http://enviropolitics.wordpress.com/2014/02/24/the-buck-stops-where/

[Laxman]

120. I Got 5 Minutes At Lunch....

Last edited Sun Dec 7, 2014, 08:19 PM - Edit history (1)

to post some updates. One new (on Wildstein e-mails) the rest historical. For those who are fans of Karma-check out #42! What goes 'round surely does come 'round!

38. David Samson's business interests overlap with work at Port Authority-Ethics 101-No Conflicts of Interest! : http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/02/david_samsons_business_interests_overlap_with_work_at_port_authority.html#incart_m-rpt-1

39. Christie Aide Joked of Traffic Jam at Rabbi’s House, Documents Show (release of more Wildstein e-mails & texts) http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/nyregion/documents-show-christie-allies-discussed-another-traffic-jam.html?hp

40. Chris Christie’s problem is that he’s really, truly a bully: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/01/08/chris-christies-problem-is-that-hes-really-truly-a-bully/

41. Chris Christie’s political bullying goes all the way back to college: http://www.salon.com/2014/01/18/chris_christies_political_bullying_isnt_surprising_hes_been_doing_it_since_college_partner/

42. Christie is a bully. A blustering bully!-Stories Add Up as Bully Image Trails Christie (Its a shame that the guy he was abusive to was just named head of the Assembly Judiciary Committee-where impeachment proceedings start!): http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/25/nyregion/accounts-of-petty-retribution-reinforce-christies-bullying-image.html

[Octafish]

121. Kick for Christie Crime Digest!

Because excellence is it's own reward isn't enough -- It needs a kick in the right pants.

[rocktivity]

122. Watson Coleman steps down from bridgegate investigation

Watson Coleman steps down from bridgegate investigation committee after calling for Gov. Chris Christie to resign -- and calling out implicated committee member Peter O'Toole: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/02/watson_coleman_steps_down_from_bridgegate_investigation_commitee_after_calling_for_gov_chris_christi.html#incart_maj-story-1

Thanks to: DU-er Segami:
The municipal clerk at Fort Lee Borough Hall this morning released 911 and police communication tapes from last September's lane closures at the George Washington Bridge:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/02/911_tapes_of_george_washington_bridge_lane_closures_released.html#incart_m-rpt-1


rocktivity

[Liberal_in_LA]

123. nice summary

[Laxman]

124. I Sense A New Entry In The Near Future....

GWB scandal: Ex-Christie campaign manager invokes Fifth Amendment in challenging subpoena

In an effort to fight a subpoena issued by the joint investigative committee looking into the George Washington Bridge scandal, Governor Christie’s former campaign manager Bill Stepien said that being forced to comply would be a violation of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution and his right to privacy, his lawyer said in a brief released Monday.

The brief also detailed parts of the federal investigation into Stepien’s actions around the lane closures — Stepien was called on his cell by an FBI agent. Stepien’s lawyer, Kevin Marino, also said that federal agents asked Stepien’s landlord, “Did he pay his rent on time?

http://www.northjersey.com/news/Lawyer_for_former_Christie_campaign_manager_files_brief_in_effort_to_fight_subpoena.html

Is that like when the chimney cleaning companies call you? Hi, Mr. Stepien, this is the FBI. We're going to be in your neighborhood this week.....

[Laxman]

125. I Hope Someone From The U.S. Attorney's Office...

is keeping up with this. The extortion attempt in Hoboken can provide the predicate offense that opens the whole can of worms to everything else that has gone down. Find that predicate offense, identify the pattern of behavior (see #1-45 above) and welcome to RICO! Surely Mr. Christie is familiar with this statute:

18 U.S.C. 1962

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person who has received any income derived, directly or indirectly, from a pattern of racketeering activity or through collection of an unlawful debt in which such person has participated as a principal within the meaning of section 2, title 18, United States Code, to use or invest, directly or indirectly, any part of such income, or the proceeds of such income, in acquisition of any interest in, or the establishment or operation of, any enterprise which is engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce. A purchase of securities on the open market for purposes of investment, and without the intention of controlling or participating in the control of the issuer, or of assisting another to do so, shall not be unlawful under this subsection if the securities of the issuer held by the purchaser, the members of his immediate family, and his or their accomplices in any pattern or racketeering activity or the collection of an unlawful debt after such purchase do not amount in the aggregate to one percent of the outstanding securities of any one class, and do not confer, either in law or in fact, the power to elect one or more directors of the issuer.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person through a pattern of racketeering activity or through collection of an unlawful debt to acquire or maintain, directly or indirectly, any interest in or control of any enterprise which is engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce.

(c) It shall be unlawful for any person employed by or associated with any enterprise engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce, to conduct or participate, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of such enterprise's affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity or collection of unlawful debt.

(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to conspire to violate any of the provisions of subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section.

Samson is a criminal enterprise all by himself. They should rename it the Port Authority of NY, NJ, Wolff & Samson!

[Laxman]

126. Something About...

Christie and Freeholders that doesn't seem to mix.

Bergen County Freeholders call for chairman of Port Authority and N.J. commissioners to resign

The Bergen County freeholders called Wednesday on Port Authority Chairman David Samson and the bi-state agency’s New Jersey commissioners to resign over the controversy surrounding a politically manufactured traffic jam at the George Washington Bridge.

By identical 6-1 votes, the board approved a pair of resolutions. The first demanded that Samson, a former state attorney general, resign, alleging that his political activity conflicted with his role as chairman.

If he does not resign, the freeholders called on Governor Christie to remove him.

The second resolution called for the five other New Jersey commissioners to resign for failing to exercise oversight on four days of gridlock created in September when two of three lanes on the Fort Lee side of the bridge were closed without any advance notice.

On both votes, the board’s five Democratic freeholders — David Ganz, Joan Voss, Steve Tanelli, Tracy Zur and James Tedesco ­— were joined by Republican Maura DeNicola. GOP Freeholder John Felice cast the lone dissenting vote.

read the rest here: http://www.northjersey.com/news/Bergen_County_Freeholders_call_for_chairman_of_Port_Authority_and_NJ_commissioners_to_resign.html?page=all

[Laxman]

127. Well There Goes The Traffic Study.....

the head of the Port Authority Police Union is talking and he's not exactly following the Christie Cover-up Playbook! There's no way that this guy is going to jeopardize his career or his pension to save Christie or any of his cronies. There's too many people involved and at some point the dam is going to break and the effluent will all come spilling out! (b/t/w is that Big Pussy Bompensiero standing and watching over that handshake between Nunziato and Christie?)

Head of Port Authority Police Union Questioned in Bridge Inquiry

Federal prosecutors recently questioned the union president, Paul Nunziato, as part of their inquiry into whether any aspect of the September lane closings amounted to a crime, according to people with knowledge of the session.

The federal authorities have said nothing publicly about their efforts beyond confirming that the inquiry is underway, as is a parallel investigation by a state legislative committee looking into why the lanes were closed and who was responsible. Likewise, neither Mr. Wildstein, a central player in the scandal, nor Mr. Nunziato, a pragmatist who engineered his union’s surprising endorsement of Mr. Christie last year, has spoken publicly about the matter since Jan. 8, when the committee released documents that took the scandal to the governor’s doorstep.

read here: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/05/nyregion/head-of-port-authority-police-union-questioned-in-bridge-inquiry.html?_r=0

[Laxman]

128. Hoboken HMGP "Shennanigans"....

it seems that there really weren't "objective" criteria for the awarding of HMGP grants. Bear with me, there is a lot to go through to understand it. The short of it is here:

Hoboken mayor: Christie administration is back peddling on city's cut of Sandy aid

Amid reports that the Christie administration may owe Hoboken $700,000 in Hurricane Sandy aid, state officials have changed how they are defending relief fund allocation, Mayor Dawn Zimmer said. Officials originally said that Hoboken was awarded its fair share, now they are trying to back peddle in face of criticism, Zimmer said.

Gov. Chris Christie's administration on Wednesday railed a WNYC and NJ Spotlight report alleging that Hoboken was shortchanged $700,000. According to the report, the state hadn't used the same criteria for Hoboken as for other cities when it determined how much the city would receive from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Energy Allocation Initiative. Larry Ragonese, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said that the report relied on incomplete data, since the final grant awards had yet to be finalized.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2014/03/hoboken_mayor_christie_administration_is_back_peddling_on_citys_cut_of_sandy_aid.html

the long of it is here:

Does Chris Christie Owe Hoboken $700,000?

The amount of Sandy aid that’s at the heart of Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s accusation against the Christie administration was initially determined through a faulty selection and scoring process, documents show.

An investigation by WNYC and NJ Spotlight has found that by using the Christie administration’s own scoring criteria, seven of Hoboken’s requests for backup generators should have been funded instead of just one, making it potentially eligible for up to $700,000 instead of the $142,080 the city was awarded.

Zimmer has claimed her city was shortchanged because she refused to support a redevelopment project favored by a close ally of Governor Christie. Top officials in the governor's office immediately disputed that claim.

The money in the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Energy Allocation Initiative has yet to be distributed, and when these scoring inaccuracies were brought to the administration’s attention, it said it was making adjustments and correcting problems and would take this investigation’s findings into consideration.

read about it here: http://www.wnyc.org/story/christie-owes-hoboken-after-sandy/ and here: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/03/05/sandy-energy-grant-program-riddled-with-errors/

[Laxman]

129. We've Reached 50!

The 50th entry in the Christie Crime Digest and its a beauty. The federal prosecutors have finally turned their sites to Mr. Samson and his 1001 Ways to Get' Rich Quick infomercial disguised as his career.

The embattled chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and close ally to Gov. Chris Christie, David Samson, has been subpoenaed by federal prosecutors in Manhattan as part of a newly disclosed investigation, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Citing sources, the report said the subpoena seeks records related to potential conflicts of interest between Samson, who has been under the microscope since the September lane closings at the George Washington Bridge, and his private law firm, Wolff & Samson.

A representative for Samson declined comment to the newspaper, but provided a statement from his attorney, Michael Chertoff, that said, "We are not commenting on the progress of investigations." The scope of the investigation was unclear, the report said.

and this gem:

Samson and his law firm have surfaced in both matters, but he was not known to be a target of prosecutors. The newest investigation, being undertaken by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, suggests he now may be a target.

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/david_samson_subpoenaed_by_federal_prosecutors_in_ny_reports_say.html#incart_river_default

[rocktivity]

130. Christie's problem being, of course, is that Samson reports to him directly

He's going to have either take the fall by explaining that the whole thing was his idea, or admit Christie helped mastermind it.

P.S. Kelly and Steptien are going to court tomorrow to claim that submitting their private email records is a form of self-incrimination. Since is was illegal of them to do government business on private email accounts, good luck with that!


rocktivity

[Laxman]

131. I Thought That Christie....

actually reported to Samson! A governor makes a great pet! Talk around the state before this all hit the fan was that Stepien and Kelly were in a relationship- ostensibly the reason for her divorce as well as why those two were thrown under the bus on the same day together. I'm buckling down for the long haul. This is going to be a marathon.

[rocktivity]

132. (One of two) Samson Fed Subpeona(s) Rescinded

A subpoena issued by the federal prosecutor from Manhattan to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey seeking documents related to Chairman David Samson was rescinded this afternoon...because of an overlapping investigation by Paul Fishman, the U.S. attorney in New Jersey: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/03/feds_rescind_subpoena_to_port_authority_chairman_samson.html#incart_river_default

The subpoena was initially sent to Samson on Friday by the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. However, the subpoena was withdrawn...

Previously subpoenaed documents by a legislative committee also looking into the lane closures, which took place over four days, have suggested Samson had knowledge of them beforehand or immediately afterward...Michael Chertoff, co-counsel for Samson said, "We are not commenting on the progress of investigations..."

As long Samson is under ONE fed subpoena, there's no reason to consider this a setback. Now, what can be done about getting that implicated O'Toole guy off the state investigative committee?


rocktivity

[yortsed snacilbuper]

133. k&r

[yortsed snacilbuper]

134. k&r

[rocktivity]

135. The first particles of fecal matter

have officially collided with the rotating air cooling device!

Governor Christie’s top Port Authority appointees, Bill Baroni and David Wildstein, were keeping his campaign manager Bill Stepien informed about the fallout from the lane closures from their earliest stages, according to documents released today by the George Washington Bridge investigative committee.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/documents-christie-port-authority-appointees-kept-campaign-manager-informed-on-fallout-from-gwb-lane-closures-1.744676

Why would Baroni and Wildstein "inform" Stepien and not Christie? Why didn't Stepien inform Christie? Why tell him something he already knew?


rocktivity

[Laxman]

136. Just In Case There Is Any Misunderstanding....

Christie was pretty unethical before he became governor. An interesting story from the Daily Beast.....Chritie & The Sex Slave Ring (what a great title!)

Did Christie Go Easy on a Human Trafficker Just to Bust a Small-Time Pol?

Chris Christie built his reputation as a crime-fighter. So why did he cut a deal with an accused sex slave ringleader—and send to jail a Democratic mayor, instead?

Beginning in 2003, members of a smuggling ring in Honduras approached girls, some just 14 years of age, and talked them into illegally entering the United States with the promise of waitressing jobs.

After making it over the border, during which time the smugglers allegedly raped some of the girls, they landed in Houston, Texas. They were temporarily held there before making the rest of their journey north to Hudson County, New Jersey.

That’s when the girls learned the truth. They were never going to be waitresses.

Read it here: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/17/did-christie-go-easy-on-a-human-trafficker-just-to-bust-a-small-time-pol.html

[Laxman]

137. How To Keep Those Who Know Too Much Silent....

apparently revolves around getting them new jobs. When will Bridget Kelly get her new gig? Being involved in political corruption is seems to be a resume builder in GOP circles!

Bill Stepien scores job at GOP consulting firm, report says

Bill Stepien landed on his feet quickly.

A day after emails and text messages were released showing that Gov. Chris Christie's former campaign manager was in the loop about the George Washington Bridge lane closures, news surfaced that Stepien landed a job at a Republican consulting firm in February.

According to a report on Politico.com, Stepien now works for FLS Connect, a phone-banking and data company with strong ties to the GOP.

His role there will be to assist with "sales and strategy on its voter contact products," Politico said.

Christie's re-election campaign paid the Minnesota-based company $61,000 last year for its work on his re-election campaign, the report said. That's just a fraction of the $68 million it received in 2012, though. Among its other clients were the New Jersey Republican State Committee, Mitt Romney's presidential campaign and numerous candidates and party committees.

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/bill_stepien_scores_job_at_gop_consulting_firm_report_says.html

[rocktivity]

138. He's getting bullied BACK!

Sounds like Christie's "Born To Run (For President)" town hall tour isn't off to a great start:
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/protesters-harangue-christie-town-hall

For the second time in a week, protesters harangued embattled New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at a contentious town hall meeting in Middlesex County...At least 17 people were kicked out after interrupting the governor...

Among their gripes: how the Christie administration has divvied up relief aid following Hurricane Sandy. They also asked why Christie hasn’t fired David Samson, chairman of the Port Authority, following some of the governor staffers’ alleged involvement in a political payback scheme to close lanes on the George Washington Bridge back in September...

Last week, at a town hall meeting in Mount Laurel, N.J., six hecklers from Rowan University were thrown out after interrupting Christie on a number of issues, including so-called “Bridgegate.”

Up until last week, the town halls Christie has held in GOP-friendly municipalities have been on the friendlier side. Security has since increased, with additional police on the premises...

...(Christie) warned...that there may be protesters planted from state unions...and to just ignore them if they interrupt. “I’m a soothsayer...They do it because they have no other choice” because they “failed at the polls.” Many of the demonstrators said they were not affiliated with any union.

rocktivity

[Laxman]

139. So Much For The Withdrawal.....

of the subpoenas by the NY US Attorney!

US Attorney in New Jersey Presses Inquiry on Christie Ally

The U.S. Attorney in New Jersey is looking into whether Gov. Chris Christie's top man at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Chairman David Samson, acted improperly when he authorized two contracts worth $2.8 billion for companies that his private law firm was representing. U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman launched the investigation last week, according to sources who couldn't speak publicly because of the ongoing investigation.

Fishman, who is seeking the documents, is already investigating Bridgegate and whether the Christie administration threatened the Hoboken Mayor with a loss of Sandy aid if she didn't approve a development deal for a Samson client.

http://www.wnyc.org/story/us-attorney-new-jersey-presses-inquiry-christie-aly/

I back this strongly...firmly....

[malaise]

142. Oh yes - things are moving along

swimmingly.
Samson has some serious conflict of interest problems.

Stock up on popcorn folks

[rocktivity]

143. Tour updates

Last edited Thu Mar 20, 2014, 01:20 AM - Edit history (1)

Man snapping photos of protestors at Christie town hall says he's a state policeman:
http://www.politickernj.com/72088/plainclothes-cameraman-snaps-pictures-protesters-chris-christie-town-hall

Protesters demand resignation of Port Authority chairman. While a few dozen protestors marched at a meeting in Jersey City, Samson announced he was excusing himself from the meeting and left:
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/politics&id=9472944

Attorney General to State Police: Stop photographing protesters at Chris Christie town halls
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/attorney_general_to_state_police_stop_photographing_protesters_at_chris_christie_town_halls.html#incart_river


rocktivity

[yortsed snacilbuper]

140. k&r

[Berlum]

141. Republicon "Family Values." As usual.

Right out of the cesspool.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

144. k&r

[Laxman]

145. This Is Getting Kind Of Long....

it may be time for volume 2. Especially since I'm hearing that we are far from the end of this saga! Who's paying Bridget Kelly's legal fees? And Christie is going to be hounded at every town hall going forward. (Woof Woof! Christie continues being dogged at the town halls! Christie confronted on GWB scandal during town hall meeting - http://www.northjersey.com/news/christie-confronted-on-gwb-scandal-during-town-hall-meeting-1.746748?page=alldirHrisd ) The U.S. Attorney is hot on the case. Tune in next week for another exciting chapter of the Christie Crime Digest. Brought to by Tums. For all the indigestion this is giving Christie. We've only just begun!

[rocktivity]

146. I concur with your diganosis.

Just remember to include the link to part one!


rocktivity

[yortsed snacilbuper]

147. Keep up the good work,

there's more revelations to come!

[malaise]

149. I agree - start Volume 2 but keep a link to this one in the Opening post

I'm lovin' it

[Cha]

148. JHC!

[Laxman]

150. I Will Definitely Split This Into Two....

I heard from an unofficial, but fairly reliable source that the U.S. Attorney has already given Wildstein immunity and is working on Bridget Kelly. They need Kelly or Stepien to get to Christie. Only Kelly provides an avenue to Obstruction of Justice and Official Misconduct charges that will serve as an incentive. I'll wait until something substantial happens to start Volume Two. Remember, Wildstein and Kelly's attorneys are well practiced at this game and have worked together on many high profile cases.

[rocktivity]

154. No immunity necessary -- they have Christie dead bang

Last edited Mon Jun 30, 2014, 11:23 AM - Edit history (2)

on Obstruction for participating in the traffic study coverup, and on Official Misconduct for allowing Samson to represent both the PA and his law firm clients doing business with the PA. Those alone are impeachable enough. They should tell Kelly and Co. that they can either take the fall for everything else or lighten their sentences by telling all.


rocktivity

[Laxman]

151. 18 Months After The Storm....

$35 million paid to Sandy victims. $50 million paid to politically connected firm HGI and who knows how much to other hooked in private firms for doing nothing. Another $25 million for Christie's family beach vacation movie. What happens when you do things like that? Disaster victims are still living in motels-like this one:

Sandy victims were living at Point Pleasant Beach motel destroyed by fire

Several residents of the Point Pleasant Beach motel destroyed by fire were displaced Hurricane Sandy victims still awaiting aid to rebuild their homes, according to the owner of a neighboring business.

Linda DeDreux, owner of the Broadway Bar & Grill, said that at least six people living at the Mariner's Cove Motor Inn were still struggling after the storm.

"The people are still there after Hurricane Sandy," said DeDreux. "They were still waiting for their houses to be repaired."

One of the three people who died in the blaze was a regular customer at the Broadway, DeDreux said. He was an elderly man who lived on the second floor, she said.

"He was afraid to jump," said DeDreux. "He wouldn't jump."

http://www.nj.com/ocean/index.ssf/2014/03/point_pleasant_beach_motel_destroyed_by_fire_housed_hurricane_sandy_victims_after_storm.html#incart_m-rpt-1

[Faux pas]

152. Excallent research!

Kudos

[Laxman]

153. Bonnie Watson Coleman's Replacement...

on the joint investigative committee has been named. Democrat Paul Moriarty. Could have been worse. I'm not entirely trusting of the Norcross-related legislators but they could have put a republican in this spot as well.

South Jersey assemblyman, a former reporter, to join GWB investigative committee

A South Jersey lawmaker who had a career as a television news reporter will be the newest member of the joint committee investigating George Washington Bridge scandal, the speaker of the Assembly announced Friday.

Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, D-Gloucester, was appointed to join the committee by Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto. He will be the committee’s 12th member and one of eight Democrats.

Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-Mercer, resigned from the committee last month after making comments on MSNBC where she said Governor Christie should “think about resigning” for his administration’s actions in the bridge scandal. Republicans pounced on the comments and said that they indicated Watson Coleman had already made up her mind about Christie’s culpability without first reviewing all the evidence.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/south-jersey-assemblyman-a-former-reporter-to-join-gwb-investigative-committee-1.748103

[yortsed snacilbuper]

155. K&R

[hrmjustin]

156. Prosecutors Subpoena Port Authority for Records on Chairman

TED MANN and HEATHER HADDON

Federal prosecutors in New Jersey subpoenaed the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey this week, seeking records related to the private business interests of the agency's chairman, David Samson.

A person familiar with the matter said the subpoena seeks records concerning Samson and two of the largest projects currently under way at the authority: the replacement of the Goethals Bridge, and the raising of the roadway of the Bayonne Bridge.

Mr. Samson, a former attorney general of New Jersey and an appointee of Gov. Chris Christie, has been under scrutiny in the months since the governor's associates triggered a scandal at the authority by closing lanes—apparently for political ends—leading to the George Washington Bridge.

Lawmakers and federal prosecutors have raised questions about the intersection between Mr. Samson's public duties as chairman of the authority and his private business, as a partner in the law firm Wolff & Samson.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304747404579447560630627506?mod=WSJ_NY_News_LEFTTopStories&mg=reno64-wsj

[malaise]

157. When will Samson resign?

That is the question

[hrmjustin]

158. I think by September.

[rocktivity]

174. You blew it!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024395877#post169


rocktivity

[hrmjustin]

175. .

[rocktivity]

159. THE BOMBSHELL HAS LANDED!

Last edited Fri Jun 5, 2015, 09:09 PM - Edit history (14)

Inquiry Is Said to Clear Christie, but That’s His Lawyers’ Verdict
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/03/24/nyregion/inquiry-is-said-to-clear-christie-but-thats-his-lawyers-verdict.html

With his office suddenly engulfed in scandal over lane closings at the George Washington Bridge, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey two months ago summoned a pair of top defense lawyers from an elite law firm to the State House and asked them to undertake an extensive review of what had gone wrong.

Now, after 70 interviews and at least $1 million in legal fees to be paid by state taxpayers...it has uncovered no evidence that the governor was involved in the plotting or directing of the lane closings.

...(T)he lawyers were able to piece together communications leading up to, during and after the lane shutdowns, despite the lack of cooperation from Ms. Kelly, Mr. Stepien and Mr. Wildstein...

That means it's all over, then -- what a relief! Christie is innocent, David Samson was ignored, the taxpayer's money was well spent, the lawyers pocketed a mint though their firm is representing the Port Authority in a lawsuit, and law and order are restored -- EVERYBODY wins!

UPDATE: Report (begins page 42) - Summary (16 pages) - Cover Letter (4 pages)


rocktivity

[Laxman]

160. This Is Great...

now our great state can get on with business! I could have done this for them for half the price! Of course, they might not have liked the answers I came up with. If you're going to spend a million dollars you should get what you paid for!

[yortsed snacilbuper]

161. K&R

[rocktivity]

162. Christie administration broke law in ignoring greenhouse gas rules, court says

Last edited Tue Mar 25, 2014, 07:58 PM - Edit history (1)

A state appeals court has determined that Christie broke the law when he permitted power plant operators to ignore carbon dioxide emission rules. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection must comply with them within 60 days:
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/christie_administration_broke_law_in_ignoring_greenhouse_gas_rules_court_says.html

And as long as we've touched on the subject, I hope The NJDEP is on someone's subpoena list: They need to explain what, if anything, was done about the air pollution monitors nearest the GWB being out of order during the first two days of Bridge(t)-Gate (Chapter 13)!


rocktivity

[yortsed snacilbuper]

163. K&R

[yortsed snacilbuper]

164. K&R

[yortsed snacilbuper]

165. K&R

[Oilwellian]

166. Breaking: Christie Knew (NYT)

Official Said He Told Christie of Lane Closings, Bridge Scandal Report Says

Report

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024735961#post3

[rocktivity]

167. Don't have time for the full report?

Last edited Tue Sep 2, 2014, 06:03 PM - Edit history (5)

Here is the 4-page cover letter, and the first 16 pages of the executive summary.


rocktivity

[joshcryer]

168. 100th rec!

[Laxman]

172. Thanks For the 100th Rec.

[rocktivity]

169. Sampson Out from the Port Authority

Last edited Sat Mar 29, 2014, 11:54 PM - Edit history (2)

He'll have to live on what he earns from his clients who do with business with the PA:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/29/nyregion/christie-press-conference-on-bridge-scandal.html

But the way his report is going over, I guess Christie needed a weapon of mass media distraction:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024744407


rocktivity

[yortsed snacilbuper]

171. K&R

[Laxman]

173. Mr. Drewniak Seem To Have An Anger Management Problem....

Mr. Mastro's report contains this little gem from Mike the Mouthpiece:

“I could claw his eyes out, pour gasoline in the sockets and light him up,” Christie’s press secretary wrote about a friend and key figure in the scandal.

read more here-its worth it: http://www.northjersey.com/news/analysis-some-evidence-seems-to-contradict-mastro-report-s-findings-on-christie-1.753711

[Smarmie Doofus]

176. K and R. Thanks for putting that together n/t

[yortsed snacilbuper]

177. Drew Sheneman cartoon: You can't even see his lips move!

[malaise]

178. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah hahahahaha

[yortsed snacilbuper]

179. Chris Christie endorsement is regrettable: Moran

During the fall campaign, the liberal TV hero Rachel Maddow ran a stinging segment ridiculing The Star-Ledger’s endorsement of Gov. Chris Christie. How could we endorse him, she asked, when we criticized him so harshly in the same piece? Had we lost our minds?

link

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

180. Madness, Madness!

[rocktivity]

181. Thanks to: DU-er Pnwmom

Is this thread two months old -- or two months ahead of its time?

What probably happened in Fort Lee was that the wrong developer won the proposal bidding process...Tucker (Development) was days away from getting...financing when someone in the Christie administration ordered the lane closures. Who would benefit?...(L)osing bid(der)...Silverstein Properties...represented by...David Samson, (Silverstein's) attorney and head of the Port Authority:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251349067


rocktivity

[Laxman]

182. You Know The Answer To That Question....

she was two months ahead of her time! PNWmom has been all over this story.
The pieces are slowly starting to fall into place! Fishman...paging Mr. Fishman....

[malaise]

185. I bumped DU-er Pnwmom's thread

[Laxman]

183. Based Upon The Sound Advice Of Rocktivity....

we will add # 66 from DU's PNWmom. Everything happens for a reason. As much as Christie would like everyone to believe that this is just a bunch of random unconnected stuff there's a pattern and PNWmom lays a lot of it out for you. read it here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251349067

One's an anomaly, two's a coincidence, three's a pattern and 66? Well that's a movement!

[pnwmom]

184. I just now noticed . . .

#66.



but my little piece is nothing compared to yours.

Thanks for your work putting together this mind boggling thread!

[Laxman]

186. Seems Like A Long Time Ago...

when we first started digging into this swamp. Who knows where this is headed. Its certainly been an interesting couple of months. I'd like to say I'm surprised by the volume, but these are bad people. Keep on this stuff mom...I'm sure there are a few surprises left and maybe some justice.

[rocktivity]

187. So he couldn't have picked Sokolich out of a lineup, eh?

Last edited Fri Apr 4, 2014, 01:17 AM - Edit history (2)

"My Way or I'll CLOSE Your Highway": How Christie's Office Used Government Employees to Win Endorsements
http://www.wnyc.org/story/bridgegate-docs-christies-government-aides-sought-election-endorsements/

The thrust of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s re-election strategy last year was to secure endorsements from Democratic officials -- and new Bridgegate documents show...that the very same people who helped mayors as government workers also sought their endorsements as political operatives...(T)he activity...could violate state and federal laws...New Jersey's ethics law states "under no circumstances may you use state time or state resources in pursuit of political activities..."

The speculation continues to be that the Bridgegate scandal evolved from a plan to retaliate against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, who didn't endorse Christie. "He was not someone who was on my radar screen in any way, politically, professionally or in any other way," Christie said of Sokolich in January. But internal documents indicate that his team was going after Sokolich hard.

His name first showed up in an email sent in January 2013 by a government official, Pete Sheridan, to five of his employees in the Intergovernmental Affairs unit...(with) a list of 21 Democratic "targets" who (they) were supposed to secure endorsements from. Sheridan told his state employees that they should be only doing this on their own time, since it was political work. But he sent those instructions during work hours...

(O)n Sept. 9, the first day of the lane closures...Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Ann Kelly...checked in with the state worker who had been trying to secure Sokolich's endorsement: Had he called yet to complain?

Yummy yum yum!


rocktivity

[Laxman]

188. CHRISTIE!......

you've got some splainin to do!

[rocktivity]

190. You want fries

with that explanation?




rocktivity

[malaise]

189. This

..(T)he activity...could violate state and federal laws...New Jersey's ethics law states "under no circumstances may you use state time or state resources in pursuit of political activities..."

Please! Please! Please!!

[Laxman]

191. The Studio Just Called....

we're in negotiations for the sequel-Christie Crime Digest II-The Prosecution


Mike the Mouthpiece testifies at the grand jury. That's not the news-the news is that there IS a grand jury!

A source has confirmed to The Star-Ledger that a grand jury is now sitting and hearing testimony in the federal criminal probe into the George Washington Bridge scandal, and earlier today, the source also said, Michael Drewniak, a chief spokesman to Gov. Chris Christie, testified before the grand jurors in Newark.

The source would not disclose what Drewniak told the grand jury.

In addition, ABC News is reporting today that state prosecutors in New Jersey are monitoring the federal probe, which is being run by prosecutors in the office of New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman.

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/04/christie_press_secretary_testifies_before_bridge_scandal_grand_jury.html#incart_river

Hey Mike, What was that you said about clawing somebody's eyeballs out and pouring gasoline in to the sockets?

[malaise]

192. Delish discussion in M$NBComcast here

Too good

[Beach Rat]

193. I'll do your dirty work for you!

I know you're sitting on that 1,000th post but this is big!

David Wildstein Meets With Prosecutors in Christie Bridge Probe

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s former point man at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey “was camped at the U.S. Attorney’s office” in Newark last week meeting with federal prosecutors investigating the George Washington Bridge lane closings, according to one of several people close to the case.

David Wildstein, who has said he informed Christie of the lane closings on Sept. 11 as they were happening, spent several days at New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman’s office in Newark, the people said. Neither Fishman’s spokeswoman nor Wildstein’s attorney would confirm the talks.

In addition, Charlie McKenna, former chief counsel to Christie, met secretly in mid-January with investigators working for Fishman, who is leading the Justice Department probe into the September lane closings.

Neither meeting has previously been reported. Along with the recent revelation that Christie press secretary Michael Drewniak testified last week before a federal grand jury investigating the lane closings, the meetings suggest Fishman is making progress in the high-profile probe of suspected public corruption.

http://www.mainjustice.com/2014/04/06/david-wildstein-meets-with-prosecutors-in-christie-bridge-probe/

[yortsed snacilbuper]

194. Legal experts say the stakes for truth-telling have been raised!

As witnesses or targets testify under oath before federal prosecutors, they will be acutely aware a single lie could result in a charge of perjury.

[rocktivity]

195. But did he get his immunity deal?

Last edited Mon Apr 7, 2014, 09:34 PM - Edit history (3)

Has he copped a plea? Or has he been advised that he shouldn't count on being saved by the state ruling that he can't take the fifth by withholding his documents?

In which case, Christie might end up taking a whole keg...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014774116


rocktivity

[rocktivity]

196. Christie Bullied By Yet Another Jilted Female

Last edited Tue Jul 7, 2015, 04:01 PM - Edit history (5)

From Crossing Christie (Digest Chapter 70):

On April 1st, Chris Christie...attended a celebrity roast...to celebrate the ninetieth birthday of Brendan Byrne, the state’s governor from 1974 to 1982. “He’s an inspiration,” Christie told the audience...because he has “shown that political comebacks can actually happen.”

Christie sat on a long dais with five former governors...next to...Thomas Kean, a longtime supporter...and five local comedians...(who) he glared at...as they delivered their lines. The speakers aimed much of their fire at Christie...

Joy Behar, the former co-host of The View... (said), “When I first heard that he was accused of blocking off three lanes on the bridge, I said, ‘What the hell is he doing, standing in the middle of the bridge?” After another barb, Christie interrupted her. “This is a Byrne roast,” he said. He stood up and tried to grab her notes. The audience laughed awkwardly.

“Stop bullying me,” Behar said as he sat down. Christie said something out of earshot and Behar responded, “Why don’t you get up here at the microphone instead of being such a coward?” Christie stood up again and moved in front of the lectern as Behar retreated.  “At least I don’t get paid for this,” he said.

Christie sat down and Behar continued, though she was noticeably rattled. “I really don’t know about the Presidency,” she said. “Let me put it to you this way, in a way that you’d appreciate: You’re toast."

Has Christie has been done in by secretive incompetent underlings yet again? It didn't occur to ANYONE on his PR team that given his situation, a roast would be begging for trouble? A friendly request to the organizers that jokes about Christie be kept to a minimum because he wasn't the guest of honor might have made all the difference. Besides, what better way to prove you're not a bully than to bully a woman? Behar should have apologized for bullying HIM, and explained she'd done it because she still hadn't gotten over being jilted by Current TV. Or she could have claimed mistaken identity since Christie was sitting in the guest of honor's seat.

This story has a happy ending, however:

Even Byrne got in a dig...“Somebody referred to that bronze statue of me that’s in the courthouse,” he said. “Actually, that was supposed to be Governor Christie, but they didn’t have enough money to pay for all that bronze."

BOOM -- not bad at all for a ninety-year-old! Brendan Byrne, ladies and gentlemen! He'll be here all week -- try the waitresses, tip the veal!


rocktivity

[Laxman]

197. The Rats Are Jumping Ship...

Christie communications staffer leaves for post in Oregon

The Oregon House Republicans have hired a former member of Gov. Chris Christie's press staff to serve as their communications director.
Kara Walker, who most recently served as a deputy press secretary to Christie, will now take the top role with the Oregon House GOP.

Late last week, Christie spokesman Colin Reed left New Jersey to work for New Hampshire Senate hopeful Scott Brown. The move is a homecoming for Reed who worked for Brown's first Senate campaign.

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/04/christie_communications_staffer_leaves_for_post_in_oregon.html#incart_river_default

Good Lord! Colin Reed actually thought working for Scott Brown is a more promising opportunity!

What's next? Top Christie staffer leaves to be assistant manager of the Clinton Avenue White Castle in Newark?

[malaise]

198. Stepien jumped the bridge first and headed to

Minnesota (Pawlenty?)

[Laxman]

199. Oh, This Is Bound To Be Trouble....

This is probably worth its own post. No tapes? No transcripts? What kind of investigation does a $1,000,000 investment get you? Apparently not very "in depth"! Not only did they forget to talk to everybody they had to, not only did they jump to conclusions, they didn't keep any records. I guess I just don't understand how "real" lawyers do their jobs.

Much Ado About Nothing: No Tapes, Transcripts of Mastro Interviews

Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), cochairman of the Joint Select Committee on Investigation, said yesterday it is his understanding that Randy Mastro and his Gibson Dunn & Crutcher firm not only failed to conduct the 70 interviews under oath, but also failed to videotape, audiotape, or have a stenographer make transcripts of any of the interviews.

“If this was supposed to be a transparent 360-degree examination of what happened, the lack of any hard evidence of what people said and how they responded to questions means that this report is based upon nothing more than the (Mastro team’s) mental impressions of what people said,” Wisniewski noted. “That’s the classic definition of hearsay,” he said, dismissing the conclusions of the $1 million taxpayer-funded study.

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/04/09/much-ado-about-nothing-no-tapes-transcripts-of-mastro-interviews/

[rocktivity]

200. Key BridgeGate Figures Don't Have To Give Documents To Lawmakers

The New Jersey legislative committee investigating the George Washington Bridge lane closures lost a key court battle when a judge ruled on Wednesday that two key figures in the scandal do not have to turn over documents:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/court-battle-kelly-stepien

http://www.scribd.com/doc/217312883/Stepien-Kelly-Opinion-2


rocktivity

[Laxman]

201. The Legislative Committee....

is just a sideshow for entertainment purposes. It's ramping up down at the Federal Courthouse in Newark. The reason the judge ruled this way is precisely because they are in hot water otherwise there's no reason to seek refuge in the 5th amendment. Fishman's investigation is where its at and he's not backing down. I'd think Kelly is close to a deal. We just won't get to see a bunch of politicians playing prosecutor.

[malaise]

202. Temporary setback

All action will be at the Fishman Federal investigation - the judge even said as much.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

203. New York Prosecutors Open Another Front of Scrutiny for Port Authority!

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. subpoenaed a broad range of records last month from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, a person familiar with the matter said, seeking information on some of the agency's highest-profile projects and correspondence among its top officials.

The subpoena, whose existence hadn't previously been disclosed, seeks correspondence among current and former authority officials and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's administration on topics including the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site, various projects in New Jersey and the PATH transportation hub in lower Manhattan, the person said.

link

[rocktivity]

204. Did Samson have a mentor?

Last edited Mon Jul 7, 2014, 10:57 PM - Edit history (1)

...(Sources say)...Anthony Sartor would be stepping down as...chair...of the Port Authority board’s World Trade Center redevelopment subcommittee...(He) heads an engineering consulting firm...with ties to the multi-billion dollar trade center project, and he repeatedly has had to recuse himself to avoid a direct conflict of interest. The Port Authority and a spokesmen for Sartor, a 1999 appointee whose latest six-year term is up this year, declined to comment on word of his departure.

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/04/manhattan_da_subpoenaed_port_authority_records_on_contracts_and_communications_with_christie_adminis.html

rocktivity

[malaise]

207. Oops!

Another one bites the dust

[Laxman]

206. So It Was True...Unfortunately...

there were not any transcripts, tapes or other recordings made of the interviews. But, there are 75 "internal memoranda" made of the interviews. (the recollection of lawyers is so much more reliable than a transcript or a statement under oath) You too can now read them if you dare...just go here: http://gdcreport.com/pdf/Interview_Memoranda.pdf Happy reading!

Lawmakers receive documents from Christie’s internal GWB inquiry

Documents describing the interviews conducted for the Christie administration's internal investigation into the George Washington Bridge lane closings have been made public.

The documents were sent today to the lawyer for the legislative panel looking into the controversy, who is reviewing them now, according to committee co-chair John Wisniewski, a Democratic Assemblyman from Middlesex County. They were posted online by the law firm, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, a short time later.

Wisniewski said the committee’s lawyer was reviewing the documents.

The law firm apparently did not record or transcribe any of those interviews. Instead, the documents are memos written by lawyers describing each interview. Each page is labeled a “privileged and confidential attorney opinion work product.” Each memo includes a statement that it is “protected from disclosure by the attorney work product doctrine.”

[rocktivity]

208. Update?

Last edited Mon Apr 14, 2014, 06:15 PM - Edit history (5)

Posted by me (April 8):

It didn't occur to ANYONE on his PR team that given his situation, a roast would be BEGGING for trouble? A friendly request to the organizers that jokes about Christie be kept to a minimum because he wasn't the guest of honor might have made all the difference.

Posted by Laxman and NJ.com (April 9):

Kara Walker, who most recently served as a deputy press secretary to Christie, will now take the top role with the Oregon House GOP...Walker held a number of posts on Christie's staff, starting as an intern and working her way up to deputy...

And the roast was held on April 1. That makes Walker's working her way down to a state government completely dominated by Democrats kind of sudden, but I suppose it's probably just another of those zany Christie coincidences. Lucky for her that Oregon and New Jersey are the only states that don't allow you to pump your own gas!


rocktivity

[malaise]

210. So Stepien, Reed and Walker have all departed

to infect other states with their ReTHUG 'scumbaggery'. Ah well!

[Laxman]

209. This Point Is Interesting....

at least I think it is. If you go to page 163 of the interview memorandum section of the Mastro report, you'll find the summary of Christie's interview. There are a few odd items in there. But one didn't strike me until this morning after reading it last night and its down near the end. They describe Christie as having tears in his eyes as he spoke to staff. It went like this:

When the meeting started, the Governor recalled being nervous because he did not know who else might be involved. He got emotional, and with tears in his eyes, asked if anyone else had anything else to do with the lane realignment, because he could not get sand-bagged again.

This is supposed to be a summary of Christie's interview! Did he describe himself as having tears in his eyes? It's like that scene in Broadcast News where William Hurt's character staged crying for the camera during an interview. This is just not quite right. Nobody would say that in their own interview and if it is something the attorney's put in on their own, they are just story tellers not investigators.

On another note-we already knew Christie engaged in collective punishment-making entire towns suffer because of the politics of the towns mayor or some other perceived slight. Its the essence of Bridgegate and so much more. Its how he kept people in line. The stories of him threatening ordinary state aid to compel actions by local officials are rampant. These interviews make clear that it was a concerted strategy of the Christie administration. Only it wasn't just attention that was withheld:

Christie's office gave less attention to mayors who didn't support governor, official said

Mayors considered unfriendly to Gov. Chris Christie were treated less favorably than his allies by staffers inside his office, many of whom moonlighted on his re-election campaign, according to a trove of internal interviews released yesterday.

A top liaison between Christie and local officials, Christina Renna, told attorneys reviewing the governor’s office in the wake of the George Washington Bridge scandal that her staff would receive "mandatory directives" to brush off calls.

She said she believed the former head of the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA), Bill Stepien, Christie’s two-time campaign manager, masterminded the effort to keep track of mayors.

"Sometimes IGA staff received a directive along the lines of ‘no need to call to check in’ with a local elected official, which was enough to send a message to the local elected official," according to a summary her interview with the attorneys.

[malaise]

211. But it's looking more like official RNC policy than just the behavior of

one governor.
Check out the Perry investigations.

[Laxman]

212. O.K., If You Give Me A Million.....

I'll give you back $10,000 for the RGA. And the best part is, its not really our money! Let me get this straight. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher took $1,000,000 in taxpayer money then promptly kicked $10,000 of it right back to the Republican Governor's Association? Headed by-oh yeah, the guy who hired them to do a worthless report for $1,000,000! Isn't this illegal? Oh Brother!

Firm hired for probe is GOP donor; $10,000 disclosed as Christie backs unlimited contributions

The law firm that cleared Governor Christie of any involvement in the George Washington Bridge scandal gave $10,000 to a national political group he heads, a disclosure made public hours after the governor said donors like that should face no limits to the amounts they can give candidates.

Christie, a prolific fundraiser courting donors ahead of a possible presidential campaign, called for eliminating the nation’s limits on political donations in a town-hall-style event on Tuesday. Donors should be able to give unlimited amounts of money, he argued, but those gifts should be quickly made public.

The public on Tuesday got its first look at who has donated to the Republican Governors Association in the months since Christie took over as chairman.

That list includes a hedge fund billionaire, large pharmaceuticals companies and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher — the law firm Christie hired to investigate his office’s involvement in the lane closures.

Gibson Dunn gave $10,000 to the RGA on March 18, nine days before a team of its top lawyers made public a report clearing Christie in the bridge scandal. The report, which critics called a “whitewash,” said that Christie had no prior knowledge of the lane closures that created huge traffic jams in Fort Lee in September.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/firm-hired-for-probe-is-gop-donor-10-000-disclosed-as-christie-backs-unlimited-contributions-1.996692

[malaise]

214. Heard that this afternoon

Damn these ReTHUGs are shameless

[yortsed snacilbuper]

213. "kicked $10,000 of it right back to the Republican Governor's Association?"

Sounds like payola?

[yortsed snacilbuper]

215. K&R

[rocktivity]

216. Christie Self Portrait Kick

Last edited Fri Apr 25, 2014, 02:45 AM - Edit history (1)

I've gone through Christie's contribution to the Mastro report memo summaries, and it turns out that he isn't as uncomplicated -- or as complex -- as he appears:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251361492


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[malaise]

217. Love it

[rocktivity]

218. Why does Christie want to slash state pensions?

So he can continue to loot and mismanage the state's pension funds:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251361567

http://pando.com/2014/04/18/chris-christies-300m-pension-proposal-broke-state-anti-corruption-laws-and-now-the-intended-recipient-threatens-to-sue-pando/


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[rocktivity]

219. Now the SEC is joining in!

SEC probing New Jersey Governor Christie's transport funding: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/25/us-usa-new-jersey-sec-idUSBREA3O25I20140425

The Securities and Exchange Commission is looking into New Jersey's use of up to $1.8 billion in tax-exempt bond financing from the Port Authority to fix a bridge and roadways feeding into the New Jersey side of the Holland Tunnel...

About $3 billion of Port Authority funds were originally earmarked for an $8.7 billion project that would have built a new commuter train under the Hudson River. Though construction had already begun, Christie killed the project in 2010 after taking office...

New Jersey is using some of those funds to rebuild the Pulaski Skyway and roadways leading to the Holland Tunnel. Under its 1921 charter, however, the bi-state Port Authority's purview includes access roads to the Lincoln Tunnel, but not to the Holland Tunnel. So the Christie administration allegedly pressured the Port Authority in 2011 to re-brand the Pulaski Skyway as feeding the Lincoln Tunnel...

For the benefit of the New Jersey-challenged:



Re-branding the Pulaski Skyway as feeding the Golden Gate Bridge would have been more convincing.


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[Laxman]

220. For Those With An Attention Span....

roughly equal to that of a Golden Retriever puppy, here's a little something to keep you from chasing that squirrel down the street when there's some good food right in your bowl!

Pace in federal GWB probe appears to be 'picking up,' source says

Federal prosecutors have summoned or expressed interest in talking to up to a half-dozen current Port Authority officials as a grand jury investigation into the George Washington Bridge lane closures accelerates, sources familiar with the matter said.

The contact suggests the investigation into the lane closures by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey is entering a new phase.

“The pace of this appears to be picking up,” said another source familiar with the matter.

Among the Port Authority officials whom federal prosecutors want to hear from is Phil Kwon, the Port Authority deputy general counsel. Kwon, who has received a subpoena to appear before a grand jury, prepared former Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni for testimony before the state Legislature when Baroni said in November – while not under oath – that the lane closures were part of a traffic study.

Since then, the legitimacy of the traffic study has been largely undercut, dismissed by critics as a cover story for politically motivated lane closures that created a traffic jam in Fort Lee.

The prospect of Kwon testifying or otherwise disclosing his advice to Baroni puts the Port Authority in an awkward legal position.

The Port Authority has said Kwon was acting as Baroni’s legal representative at the time, meaning the discussions Kwon had with Baroni might be protected by attorney-client privilege. That protection could be invoked by the Port Authority even if Kwon were subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury, a source said, unless prosecutors could prove that the advice has already been shared with third parties.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/port-authority-lawyer-called-before-grand-jury-in-federal-gwb-inquiry-1.1007092

The U.S. Attorney's office is "where its at" when it comes to this investigation. The legislative committee is all for show right now.

[malaise]

221. Posted this on a separate thread last night

Great news

Saw an NYT Report that donors are moving moneyfrom CHristie is history to Jeb Bush.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

222. K&R

[yortsed snacilbuper]

223. GWB inquiry expands scope, subpoenas files from Christie political strategist!

The subpoena sent to DuHaime on Monday and made public Wednesday seeks calendars, notes and other communications related to Christie, Kelly and other top officials with the campaign, at the Port Authority and in the governor’s office whose names have all come up in other documents related to the lane closures.

- See more at: link

[Laxman]

224. The Wheels Of Justice....

have indeed been turning. Perhaps not as slowly as I thought...Samson is teed up and there's no way he's going down for Christie.

Prosecutor Is Closing In on Gov. Christie

“They’ve got him cold,” says one source. “He got sloppy, arrogant, and greedy. Samson will want a deal. This way, he’d get one or two years. He’d have a future on the other side. He won’t want to die in jail.”

Fishman’s timetable is unclear -- he has yet to send out target letters even to the lower-hanging fruit: Wildstein and Baroni, and Bridget Kelly and Bill Stepien, Christie’s former Deputy Chief of Staff and his former campaign manager, each deeply implicated in the Fort Lee/GWB debacle. One source expects Fishman to return some indictments as soon as next month. Both sources say that all of those four certainly will be indicted -- and both further note that Fishman, an Obama appointee, hopes to see the entire matter resolved before this President’s term expires. “But Fishman is really focused on Christie,” says one source. “Ultimately, he believes he'll get to the governor.

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/christie-investigation?click=promo

[rocktivity]

225. What he's lost in pounds, he's certainly gained in unmitigated gall

Last edited Mon Jun 30, 2014, 11:31 AM - Edit history (4)

He said of his Jimmy Fallon appearance: "We...use(d) the same philosophy we have used this entire administration: Go big or go home." He needed the state supreme court to push through his pension cuts. He's defended Scott Walker's honor, but hasn't apologized to the guy who correctly predicted that his budget numbers would be disastrously wrong. He's run up a taxpayer funded legal bill of three million dollars. He's tied the record for state credit downgrades for one NJ governor.

And yet he told a group a donors that his troubles are merely the result of a "social conspiracy" by those who don't want his presidential aspirations to get any "more altitude...Don’t be so nervous...(Y)ou’ll get over it. It will be fine.”

Try to imagine him doing this in an orange jumpsuit if it helps.




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[rocktivity]

226. More on Skyway-Ghazi (or would you prefer Pulaski-Gate?)

Last edited Tue Jul 8, 2014, 10:13 AM - Edit history (4)

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/24/nyregion/2nd-bridge-inquiry-said-to-be-linked-to-christie.html

Investigations...(by)...the Manhattan district attorney and the Securities and Exchange Commission...have zeroed in on possible securities law violations stemming from a $1.8 billion road repair agreement in 2011...(for) the Pulaski Skyway, the crumbling elevated roadway connecting Newark and Jersey City...

Gov. Chris Christie’s administration pressed the Port Authority to pay for extensive repairs to the Skyway and related road projects, diverting money that was to be used on a new Hudson River rail tunnel that Mr. Christie canceled in October 2010. Again and again, Port Authority lawyers warned against the move...

The Pulaski Skyway, they noted, is owned and operated by the state, putting it outside the agency’s purview...But the Christie administration relentlessly lobbied to use the money for the Skyway, with Mr. Christie announcing publicly that the state planned to rely on Port Authority funds even before an agreement was reached...Port Authority...documents describ(e) the Skyway reconstruction and other repairs...(as) “Lincoln Tunnel Access Infrastructure Improvements...”

And if the "securities law violations" don't get him, the deals that David Samson's clients got sure can!


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[rocktivity]

227. More self-exoneration

Cuomo-Christie Port reform group resolves to "consider" reform
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/07/8548428/cuomo-christie-port-reform-group-resolves-consider-reform?top-featured-1

On the Thursday afternoon before the long July 4 weekend, Governors Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie (have) released a letter from the Special Panel on the Future of the Port Authority...

(On May 6), after (New York) Senator Chuck Schumer publicly excoriated the governors' politicization of the agency, Christie and Cuomo announced the creation of the special panel...The governors requested a report within 60 days, and asked that (it) "include specific recommendations and proposed next steps."

Now, now, let's not be cynical -- early July IS sixty days after early May! It's not Christie or Cuomo's fault that the day happened to be one where the letter would get the LEAST amount of media attention!

They populated (the panel) with John Degnan, Christie's nominee for Port Authority chairman, Richard Bagger, a Christie-appointed Port Authority boardmember, Port Authority vice-chairman Scott Rechler, a Cuomo appointee, Christie counsel Christopher Porrino and Cuomo counsel Mylan Denerstein.

Seeing as Christie is the prime suspect and Cuomo has been implicated in Bridge(t)-Gate, the LEAST they could have done was have the same number of appointees from each state. And among them is Christie's pick for the next PA chairman? Why does Christie have more authority over Cuomo in this matter?

(The report) argu(es) that "today’s Port Authority lacks an effective culture of compliance and accountability, one where employees are empowered and expected to raise their concerns directly to their superiors or, when necessary, to others in positions of authority..."

Well, that's fine. But if fear of bringing bad news to their superiors is the problem, maybe it's the culture of the SUPERIORS that has to be changed -- if not the superiors themselves. For instance, I wonder what would have happened if someone had pointed out that having an uneven number of panelists who favored the governor would not look good. Is this report simply another "product" of the PA's ineffective "culture"?

It says that the panel should evaluate existing ethics, transparency and conflicts-of-interest policies with the help of an "outside expert," one that it is currently in the process of retaining, and that it should also also examine existing by-laws and leadership structures...

I like that "outside expert" idea -- as long as he's not going to be "retained" by the governors themselves. That should be a federal level, federally-salaried job, since the PA is a federal agency by default. In fact, maybe such a person should BE the chairman, with the governors acting as vice chairmen. (No, I'm sorry, David Samson -- you don't qualify.) If there's too much infighting between the two states, or too much bullying of one of them, having to report to an independent referee might be the answer.

...The panel promises to look into the possibility of further reforms in the future...

The resulting report is aggressively unspecific.

"Considering, promising, and looking into" are one thing, actually doing is another. And we don't even HAVE the report, just its cover letter. More comphrensive reforms are promised by January -- and all by the people who CAUSED the problem? Here's hoping that some comprehensive indictments will appear by January, too!


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[Laxman]

228. Just Business As Ususal For The Christie Administration....

its good to be friends with this governor!

Port Authority was pressed by Christie administration to hire governor's former law firm, sources say

Two former agency officials with knowledge of the hiring said Christie administration officials in Trenton instructed the Port Authority to find work for the Cranford-based firm in 2010, the same year Christie came into office. The opportunity arose later the same year when the Port Authority was sued over a controversial land deal in Bayonne and looked for outside legal representation.

But the Port Authority skipped the competitive selection process typically used to choose outside law firms, according to internal memos obtained by The Record. Under the standard process, multiple firms are asked to submit proposals for a specific task, describing their qualifications in the relevant area of law and their general legal strategy. Then they are ranked by an internal evaluation panel.

One of the firm’s current partners, Craig Domalewski, was senior counsel to the governor at the time the Port Authority hired the firm.

During the same month, September 2010, the Port Authority hired Domalewski’s father to a $98,000-a-year job as a “senior project manager.” Stanley Domalewski, who had donated to Christie’s gubernatorial campaign, was one of dozens of patronage hires recommended for Port Authority jobs by the Christie administration.

In December 2011, the younger Domalewski left the Christie administration to join Dughi & Hewit as a partner and is now handling some of the Port Authority litigation.

Read it here: http://www.northjersey.com/news/port-authority-was-pressed-by-christie-administration-to-hire-governor-s-former-law-firm-sources-say-1.1047687

[Laxman]

229. Another Of Christie's "Insider Crew".....

is headed for the hills. The Sandy Recovery Czar is leaving the state. Not a bad guy, but also not someone who was qualified or up to the job.

Marc Ferzan, who has headed the Office of Recovery and Rebuilding since it was created in late 2012, is moving to Virginia to "support a career opportunity for his wife," according to a press release obtained by The Star-Ledger that the governor’s office plans to distribute today.

You can read it here: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/07/christies_storm_czar_mark_ferzan_to_resign.html

An interesting opinion piece on Mr. Ferzan:

During the more than a year and a half that he served as Sandy czar, the administration was criticized for its slowness in distributing federal aid; for its hiring of a contractor that bungled the relief effort; for its shameless use of Sandy money for TV ads starring Christie and political pet projects in towns barely scathed by the storm, such as a senior housing project in Belleville pushed by the governor.

The Christie administration is to blame here. Decisions were likely made at a higher level than Ferzan. But we have no regrets about his departure. No matter how hard he may have been working, doing it all behind closed doors is never an acceptable way to run a disaster recovery effort in a democracy.

read the rest here: http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/07/christie_sandy_czar_marc_ferzan_was_a_mystery_man_editorial.html#incart_river

[Laxman]

230. A Great Two-Part Article From The Nation.....

detailing the shady deals and insider influence behind the American Dream Mega Mall. Smells worse than the Hackensack mud flats at low tide in the summer. The Saga of Christie, Samson and the American Dream Mega Mall. Read Part 1 here: http://www.thenation.com/blog/180471/saga-christie-samson-and-american-dream-megamall-part-i

then read part 2 here: http://www.thenation.com/blog/180497/saga-christie-samson-and-american-dream-megamall-part-ii .

From Part 1:

Leave aside, for the moment, whether or not such a project is needed in the most densely populated, traffic-clogged state, filled already with countless malls. The project, precariously financed and putting New Jersey taxpayers at risk, involves a stunning web of conflict-of-interest arrangements, at the heart of which—and representing nearly every side—is David Samson, Wolff & Samson, and their clients. He and his firm have ties to both the state and local government agencies that will provide tax supported bond financing. He has represented as counsel and overseen massive contracts for the company that will pull together private funds for the project as well, and it is still another Wolff & Samson client, Triple Five, which is actually building the project. Grifa, the Wolff & Samson lawyer, first played a key role for the state of New Jersey in getting it off the ground and then brought Triple Five, the builder, as a client to Wolff & Samson, where she works alongside Jeffrey Chiesa, who served as attorney general and chief counsel under Governor Christie before going back to Wolff & Samson.

From Part 2:

Conveniently, when Lori Grifa, the Wolff & Samson attorney and former Christie appointee at the Department of Community affairs, left the DCA at the end of 2011 to return to Wolff & Samson, she brought Triple Five, the builder of the American Dream complex, with her as a client. Triple Five clearly expected the firm to get them the funding they needed to make the project a reality—and, so far, they haven’t been disappointed. Although construction has not restarted, an April agreement between the firm and labor unions appears to be one of the last remaining obstacles. Triple Five agreed to pour $1 billion more into the project—but only if the state came up with money from the public coffers. Perhaps they counted on the fact that, ever since taking office, Christie has supported huge corporate tax breaks to get companies to stay in New Jersey, and Wolff & Samson’s lobbyists worked hard to persuade state legislators to pass bills favoring those tax breaks. Many of Wolff & Samson’s clients ended up as recipients, and the largest tax break went to Wolff & Samson’s client, Triple Five and the Meadowlands Xanadu project, newly renamed as the American Dream.

[rocktivity]

231. And here's where you can download the radio interview its authors did

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/audio.wnyc.org/lopate/lopate071014epod.mp3

Now:


To come:


Yet no one has pointed out that New Jersey needs another megamall as badly as it needed another casino...


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[rocktivity]

232. More about the casino

According to The Asbury Park Press, Chatham Asset Management owns 28 percent of the "troubled property":

Investing in a hedge fund that is a major owner of a property that emerged from bankruptcy protection last year from nearly $1.5 billion in debt seems to be taking risk to a whole new level...

The decision by the Investment Council to sink $300 million into the Chatham hedge fund seems to mirror the Christie administration's attachment to Revel, a dinosaur from the minute it opened...Revel, which cost $2.4 billion to build, is expected to be sold sometime this year for as little as $200 million to $300 million. It continues to have difficulty attracting customers, ranking ninth out of 11 casinos in the state.

That didn't stop Gov. Chris Christie from doing all he could to help the casino succeed, including giving it $261 million in New Jersey tax money via credits once it turned a profit - a profit that never materialized. In March 2012, at the resort's opening, Christie called the completion of Revel and its opening "a turning point for Atlantic City and a clear sign that people once again have faith in the city's ability to come back and be successful."

Rather than being the game-changer for Atlantic City Christie had promised, Wall Street casino analysts say Revel has not expanded the market, as once hoped. Instead, the gaming market there has continued to shrink.

The casino gambling market is shrinking? Maybe that's because people would rather stay home and gamble online:

In March 2013, New Jersey officials forecast that online gambling would yield somewhere in the neighborhood of $180 million in tax revenues for the state during the first fiscal year Internet gaming was legal. But the estimates have been falling ever since—to $160 million when Chris Christie signed the state budget last summer, and down to just $34 million earlier this year, after a few months of legalized online gambling had passed. More recently, the state treasurer said that no more estimates on online gambling revenues would be made public...

Oh. Well, maybe a better slogan would help Revel:

[CENTER][/CENTER]
[FONT SIZE="1"]*New Jersey state employees need not apply -- you've already gambled your pension on Chris Christie. And lost.[/FONT]


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[Laxman]

233. Even A Mouse Knows....

what a liar Christie is! Check out this little article with a hilarious video to go with it. ( Video link: http://video-embed.nj.com/services/player/bcpid1950981419001?bctid=3639024013001&bckey=AQ~~,AAAAPLMILBk~,Vn8u6tPOf8Us2eD8W1ez5Zw-Ss_6Anfe )

Chris Christie's bridge fiction: the Pulaski Skyway-Lincoln Tunnel claim debunked (Ledger Live video)

In order to create a legal justification for using $1.8 billion from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to repair the Pulaski Skyway and other nearby roadways, lawyers for the state and the Port Authority had the skyway classified as an access road for the Lincoln Tunnel. No, Jersey drivers, that's not a typo. The Lincoln Tunnel.

One glance at a map - which shows the Skyway feeding directly into the Holland Tunnel and the Lincoln — a long, winding (and stoplight filled) six miles away, shows how absurd that is.

And it could be illegal. The move is now reportedly being investigated by the US Securities Exchange Commission, the US Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney in Manhattan.

On today’s Ledger Live video we put that claim to the test by quizzing true experts: Newark Airport cab drivers. Then, we test it further, with a preschooler and a mouse in a maze.

Read it here: http://www.nj.com/ledgerlive/index.ssf/2014/06/chris_christies_bridge_fiction_the_pulaski_skyway-lincoln_tunnel_claim_debunked_ledger_live_video.html#incart_river_default

[rocktivity]

234. LOVED the reference to the "no-tell" motels on Tonnelle Avenue!

I drove that route so often, I practically knew the motels by heart -- uh, because I couldn't afford to get on the turnpike, of course!


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[rocktivity]

235. Christie and Wrestler "The Rock" Star in Online Pension Reform Video (For Seven Hours)

Last edited Mon Jun 22, 2015, 02:04 PM - Edit history (4)

NJ.com: With the feel and dramatic score of an action-film trailer, a video...was meant to tease the governor’s plan to reform New Jersey’s troubled pension system, facing $40 billion in unfunded liabilities and growing, which Christie says he will unveil by summer’s end.

There were no details in the video, but there were plenty of...things blowing up and tag lines like "no pain, no gain." Also, Christie’s staff even spliced some shots of one of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson’s movies...

(The video) was posted (on YouTube) around lunchtime and removed by about 7:30 p.m...

The clip’s light-hearted approach struck some New Jersey Democrats and the leaders of public employee unions as tone deaf. After all, they said, Christie had cut $2.4 billion from the legally required pension contributions he had vowed to make in 2010, saddling the ailing pension system with more long-term debt...

John Currie, chairman of the state Democratic Party, issued a statement saying, "The state’s economy is in ruins, and yet the governor is mocking the pain and suffering he’s causing middle-class families"...(And) Matt Katz, a reporter for WNYC, tweeted tonight that Johnson asked not to be included in the video, leading to its removal...

Republicans are infamous for swiping the music of rock bands without permission -- why not swipe movie clips, too? Anyhow, here's hoping someone "bootlegged" the original...

On edit: VICTORY IS OURS!

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[rocktivity]

239. UPDATE: Crew Christie has put up a new version

Last edited Sat Jul 19, 2014, 02:10 PM - Edit history (1)

with both The Rock and the comments disabled. But like I said, the original lives -- and always will!

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[Laxman]

236. The U.S. Attorney Has Instructed The Bridgegate Committee....

to stop calling witnesses! "They can no longer call anyone of note". A very interesting development. Christie acts like he's got nothing to worry about, yet the U.S. Attorney's investigation marches on. Whistling past the graveyard? I hope so. Its time for this despicable human being to be removed from the Governors office and made to face a criminal prosecution from the other side of the table.

Bridgegate Committee Can't Call Any More Major Witnesses

The U.S. Attorney's Office has asked the New Jersey legislative committee investigating Bridgegate to refrain from calling a range of potential witnesses out of concern that their testimonies could interfere with an ongoing federal criminal investigation, according to a source close to the matter.

Those on the do not call to testify list include Gov. Chris Christie's chief political adviser, Michael DuHaime, who had several conversations with Christie and Port Authority figures as the controversy grew late last year, and Mark Sokolich, the mayor of Fort Lee, where the lane closures occurred. In fact, the list of those whom the committee has been asked not to subpoena is so long that "no one of note" can currently be called to testify, the source said.

read it here: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/07/15/bridgegate-committee-can-t-call-any-more-major-witnesses

Listen to Matt Katz discuss the story on WNYC here: http://project.wnyc.org/christie/

[rocktivity]

238. U.S. Attorney Fishman: Reports about Bridgegate investigation 'Almost entirely incorrect'

Last edited Wed Jul 30, 2014, 12:38 PM - Edit history (9)

NJ.com: U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman...the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey, gave rare but limited comments about his office's ongoing investigation into the massive traffic jam in Fort Lee last year...During a news conference today...Fishman was asked about a report in Esquire magazine last month that said he was closing in on criminal targets and would have indictments ready soon.

"I will say this: Reports in the press that purport to describe what I might be thinking or what the people who are working on that matter might be thinking or contemplating have been almost entirely incorrect," Fishman said. "And you should be wary of reports that attribute, for attribution or otherwise, what we’re thinking or what we’re doing."

And he probably wouldn't even have been at that news conference if it hadn't involved the arrest of a dozen people.

Just as I suspected -- I even saw a story that Christie had offered to resign in exchange for no jail time.

I think we're still a few months away, because if what we ourselves have compiled is any indication, Mr. Fishman has a truckload of allegations to sift through -- and he knows he'll have to separate the wheat from the chaff if he's going up against an ex-U.S. attorney like Christie. And Mr. Fishman will have leaked what he wants leaked when he's darned good and ready to leak it!


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[rocktivity]

240. Here's the math

Nearly nine BILLION reasons why Christie "had to" withhold nearly $5 billion from the state's pension funds:
http://www.onenewjersey.org/christie-by-the-numbers/

$23.8 million – The total cost for primary and special elections to fill the seat of U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg in October of 2013, rather than waiting until the November general election one month later. (Bloomberg, 6/6/13)

$150 Million – The amount AshBritt secured in no-bid contracts from 53 municipalities throughout New Jersey after Christie Administration secured their contract (Star Ledger, 3/29/2013)

$390,200 – Amount Christie and Guadagno have cost taxpayers using state police helicopters (Bloomberg, 4/1/2013)

$1.2 Million – Paid to politically-connected lobbying law-firm Patton Boggs for fighting demands from federal government to return $271,000,000 spent on Access to the Region’s Core project (NorthJersey.com, 7/5/11)

$279 Million – Loss to NJ taxpayers as a result of Governor Christie canceling the ARC Tunnel project for his own political gains (NorthJersey.com, 1/8/2012)

$300,000 – Taxpayer dollars wasted in January 2010 to lure businesses from Illinois to New Jersey; to-date, not a single business has relocated

$2.1 Billion – In his first 3 years, Christie has doled out $2.1 billion in tax credits and subsidies to 171 various projects (NJPP, April 2013)

$2.3 Billion – Tax breaks for corporations in Governor Christie’s fourth and final budget alone (The Times of Trenton, 3/4/2013)

$261 Million – State tax credits was doled out to Revel casino which filed for bankruptcy just 10 months after opening (The Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/21/2013)

$200 Million – Cost of tax breaks Christie promised to the foreign company that took over development of Meadowlands Xanadu project (NorthJersey.com, 5/3/2011)

$282 Billion – New Jersey’s debt, the fourth-highest debt in the nation (NJBIZ, 8/29/2012)

$400 Million – Race to the Top federal education funding lost because Christie refused to compromise and work with teachers’ union on application for funding (The Star-Ledger, 10/10/10)

$3 Billion – The largest Federal Transit Administration grant in American history, lost when Christie killed the Access to the Region’s Core tunnel project (Asbury Park Press, 12/27/10)

$145 Million – Amount owed to the federal government for Medicaid mismanagement (The Star-Ledger, 1/12/2012)

$171 Million – Minimum expected losses from 2012-2018 as a consequence of Christie pulling New Jersey out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (Environment New Jersey, 2/15/2102)

$2 Billion – Amount Christie cut education by – a sum so drastic the state supreme court ruled it unconstitutional

$3 Million - amount spent on his legal self-exoneration (less whatever the law firms "donated" to the Republican Governor's Association that he heads)

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[rocktivity]

241. Gov. Christie Shifted Pension Cash to Wall Street, Costing New Jersey Taxpayers $3.8 Billion

Last edited Mon Aug 25, 2014, 01:12 PM - Edit history (3)

It's been tallied up how much -- and how badly -- Christie has spent tax revenues on Wall Street:
http://www.ibtimes.com/gov-christie-shifted-pension-cash-wall-street-costing-new-jersey-taxpayers-38-billion-1667622

International Business Times: Gov. Chris Christie's administration openly acknowledged that more New Jersey taxpayer dollars were going to land in the coffers of major financial institutions. It was 2010, and Christie had just installed a longtime private equity executive, Robert Grady, to manage the state's pension money. Grady promoted a plan to put more of those funds into riskier investments managed by Wall Street firms. Though this would entail higher fees, Grady said the strategy would "maximize returns while appropriately managing risk."

Four years later, New Jersey has secured only half the promised results. The state has sent more pension money to big-name Wall Street firms like Blackstone, Third Point, Omega Advisors, Elliott Associates and Grady's old firm, The Carlyle Group. Additionally, the amount of fees the state pays financial managers has more than tripled since Christie assumed office. New Jersey is now one of America’s largest investors in hedge funds. The “maximized returns” have yet to materialize...

Maybe Christie's problem is that he thinks casinos and Wall Street investments work the same way!


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[Laxman]

242. A Lesson In How...

to kill two birds with one stone! Funnel some cash to your big money wall street backers and use the losses to demonstrate why we need to "reign in" those awful public employee's benefits. It's like hitting the Daily Double! There must be a winning trifecta here somewhere. Here's a race to the bottom question for you- what's worse, his corruption, his disdain for the people he was elected to serve or the stupidity of the voters who haven't revolted yet.

[rocktivity]

243. Yeah, can we have a look at that video again?

rocktivity

[Laxman]

244. Going Back And Reading The Article Again....

this just jumped out:

Had New Jersey’s pension system simply matched the median rate of return, the state would have reaped roughly $3.8 billion more than it did between fiscal years 2011 and 2014, says pension consultant Chris Tobe. Those unrealized gains represent more than New Jersey’s annual budget for its entire higher education system, and more than 10 times what the state spends each year on environmental protection. It is also more than enough to cover the required pension payment that Christie cut. To make up for that $3.8 billion return-on-investment gap, every household in the state would have to cough up roughly $1,200.

yet very little coverage in the NJ press.

[rocktivity]

245. Looks like the state investigators finally have something to do

Last edited Wed Sep 3, 2014, 09:41 PM - Edit history (2)

They've found a witness who isn't on Mr. Fishman's "do not call (to testify)" list:

Daily Kos/The Hill: ...(T)he NJ investigative panel is issuing a subpoena for records of all calls and text messages between Christie and...Regina Egea...(who) was the governor’s liaison to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which controls the bridge.

Egea told the panel last month that she had texted Christie following a hearing in December at which Port Authority workers refuted what was then the official explanation for the closures, to conduct a traffic study...also reveal(ing) they were told by a Port Authority official appointed by Christie not to alert Fort Lee officials to the closures in advance. That text, however, was not turned over to the legislative panel investigating the closures. Egea said at last month’s hearing she deleted it — an unusual move, as New Jersey law requires officials to maintain records of such communications.

Democratic assemblyman John S. Wisniewski, the co-chairman of the legislative committee...said...“It’s a curious occurrence where two high-profile figures simultaneously delete the same text message. It could be nothing, but it seems curious because a whole lot of other things weren’t deleted..."

Curiouser and curiouser, indeed!


rocktivity

[Laxman]

248. We Have Lots of New Entries To The Crime Digest...

even though everything seemed to be quiet. Meanwhile, Christie's in Mexico. Maybe it's like in the old western movies where the desperado says if I could just make it to the Mexican border, it will all be alright.

I know everybody's got Christie fatigue, but there are 17,000 views. Now granted, 1,000 are from me doing edits, 1,000 are from Rocktivity , 1,000 are probably from the Ron Paul campaign's minions doing opposition research for the Republican primaries- that still leaves 14,000, which is a pretty healthy number. This is important for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is the arrogance and seeming impunity that people like Christie operate with. Government is supposed to be for doing the most good for society with the resources we have, not using those resources for the most good for the people in government-and their friends. Keeping the pressure up and the awareness of what's taking place is the best tool that ordinary people have. Did anybody ever expect to see the Virginia governor go to the crowbar hotel two years ago? Christie deserves disgrace, jail or both just as much as McDonnell. So bring yourself up to date with the latest happenings. The investigation is not dead yet-or even mostly dead.


97. THIS should make any thinking person sick to their stomach-NJ Gov. Chris Christie's pension moves cost taxpayers and retirees billions $4 billion would have taken care of the pension shortfall! But NO-it's the public employees fault-disgusting.: http://www.ibtimes.com/gov-christie-shifted-pension-cash-wall-street-costing-new-jersey-taxpayers-38-billion-1667622

98. Why govern when using your office to raise campaign cash is so much more lucrative! Inside Chris Christie's Permanent Campaign: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/08/25/inside-chris-christie-s-permanent-campaign

99. You'll get nothing and like it! Commuters stuck because of tunnel constraints figure out that Christie nixed the additional tracks into NYC. Our idiot governor decides to argue with them on Twitter! Christie Tweet-Fights With NJ Transit Commuters: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/08/14/christie-tweet-fights-with-nj-transit-commuters#

100. I was hoping # 100 would announce indictments but-we'll give it to Charles Pierce for a Crime Digest worthy summary of Christie's hypocrisy and failings- The Passion Of Big Chicken, The Fleecing : http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/Big_Chicken_Loses_Big

101. Now let me get this straight-out of all of your text messages, this is the one you deleted? Regina Egea's phone records subpoenaed to discover missing text to Christie. N.J. legislative panel to subpoena phone and email records between Chris Christie and Regina Egea : http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/08/29/1325647/-N-J-legislative-panel-to-subpoena-phone-and-email-records-between-Chris-Christie-and-Regina-Egea

102. The Port Authority cops knew something was amiss and were told to shut up about it. Port Authority cops told to 'shut up' about GWB lane closures, memo says : http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/09/port_authority_cops_told_to_shut_up_about_gwb_lane_closures_memo_says.html#incart_m-rpt-1

Plus-for those interested in source materials, read the memo here: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1283440-papd-document.html

103. Christie Crime Digest put to shame! The Bergen Record has assembled a very compelling and visually appealing dossier on all things Bridgegate. A very nice compilation of materials for anyone looking for a way to make sense of this. The GWB Files: Christie and The World's Busiest Bridge: http://www.northjersey.com/news/the-gwb-files-christie-and-the-lane-closures-at-the-world-s-busiest-bridge-1.1080372

104. Christie and his family on the beach didn't just violate good taste-those ads also violated Federal procurement rules for Sandy money. Remember, Quod est in Loco! (For those who are new to this, that's Latin for "the fix is in" the Christie Administration Motto! 'Stronger Than the Storm': Federal audit finds N.J. did not fully comply with procurement rules: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/09/stronger_than_the_storm_audit.html

105. Let's see, high unemployment-check, higher property taxes-check, state's bond rating lowered-AGAIN-check- Fitch downgrades N.J. debt, saying Christie is repudiating his pension reform:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/09/fitch_downgrades_nj_debt_saying_christie_is_repudiating_his_pension_reform.html#incart_m-rpt-1

106. No money for pensions. No money for infrastructure. No money for schools. But we do have hundreds of millions for a casino-that failed: Chris Christie loses a big Atlantic City bet, posing another challenge for 2016 run-http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/chris-christie-loses-a-big-atlantic-city-bet-posting-another-challenge-for-2016-run/2014/09/05/d7471a7a-33b0-11e4-8f02-03c644b2d7d0_story.html

107. She don't know nuthin' 'bout nuthin'-Guadagno office subpoenaed on 'Hoboken issues' -Apparently this happened back in July- its funny how it all seemed to be very quiet over the summer :http://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-state-news/guadagno-office-subpoenaed-on-hoboken-issues-1.1081619

108. Hey Putin! I got Ukraine, right here I got it! A frightening take on Christie's potential approach to foreign policy from The New Republic ( I know, I saw Shattered Glass too) Chris Christie Wants to Arm Wrestle Vladimir Putin, Basically: http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119291/chris-christie-vladimir-putin-gaffe

109. Oh and by the way, today is Chris Christie's birthday and the Cake Boss wants to raise some money for the blowhard. NJ GOP gets fundraising solicitation from Cake Boss for Christie's birthday cake Let's make sure to send him some DU birthday best wishes!: http://www.politickernj.com/80496/nj-gop-gets-fundraising-solicitation-cake-boss-christies-birthday-cake

[Laxman]

249. A Few New Tidbits...

for your amusement this week.

Christie Argues His Own Pension Law Is Unconstitutional

In a new motion, lawyers for the governor say following the 2011 law would be unconstitutional because it places "an unwilling populace" under a "fiscal stranglehold," protects "special interest groups" over the rest of the state's citizens, and that the governor alone has the final word on appropriations.

So that's what he thinks about public employees-they're a "special interest group", really?

Read it here: http://project.wnyc.org/christie/#latest-398752

AND...

Debbie Wasserman Schultz held a press conference in Fort Lee this week to "commemorate" the GWB lane closures! Ouch!

Debbie Wasserman Schultz rips Chris Christie over Bridgegate

“On issue after issue, the political points Christie and his administration make are focused on one man - Chris Christie - and not on doing what’s best for New Jersey and the constituents who elected him,” Wasserman Schultz said. “This is going to be the legacy that Chris Christie carries with him into a possible presidential campaign: a state stuck in reverse, a culture of intimidation and incompetence, and pure gridlock.”

Read it here: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/debbie-wasserman-schultz-bridgegate-chris-christie-110701.html

[rocktivity]

251. You want some sprinkles on those tidbits?

Last edited Tue Sep 23, 2014, 12:24 PM - Edit history (10)

As of the end of August, Christie's self-exoneration bill to Rudy Mastro, which New Jersey taxpayers are still footing, now stands at more than seven million dollars.

Kim Guadagno, who said &quot Hoboken) Mayor Zimmer’s version of our conversation in May of 2013 is not only false, it is illogical and does not withstand scrutiny when all of the facts are examined" when she could have said "Mayor Zimmer is lying," has recently signed a law requiring all New Jersey high school students to be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A very wise move, since Crew Christie should expect a spike in cardiac distress episodes the way things are going for them!

rocktivity

[rocktivity]

253. Christie Gambles On Unilaterally Lifts Sports-Betting Prohibition

Last edited Tue Jul 7, 2015, 03:25 PM - Edit history (3)

You'd think he'd wait until he was sure it was a sure thing:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/09/nyregion/christie-unilaterally-lifts-sports-betting-prohibition.html?_r=1

In his most aggressive gambit yet to bring sports betting to the aid of New Jersey’s ailing casino industry, Gov. Chris Christie issued a directive on Monday saying that the state would not prosecute casinos and racetracks for accepting wagers on most athletic contests.

The governor’s office said the prohibition would be lifted “effective today,” but it also sought approval from a judge who had earlier blocked sports betting, creating confusion about what would be allowed, and when.

The state’s racetracks and casinos seemed to be caught off guard by the announcement — as were federal officials and the professional sports leagues who have been fighting the Christie administration in court — and said that they had no plans to begin offering sports betting...A spokeswoman for the United States attorney, Paul J. Fishman, said his office had no advance notice of the governor’s directive or his request to the court...

Surely it's reasonable to presume that Christie and Fishman aren't exactly on the best of speaking terms. But considering that his online betting revenues have crapped out, and a fifth Atlantic City casino is on the verge of closing, maybe it WOULD be smarter for Christie to hold on to the few chips he has left.

Mr. Christie’s announcement also distracted from the reminders of another nagging problem for the governor: Monday was the first anniversary of the closing of access lanes to the George Washington Bridge, which was later revealed to have been engineered and then concealed by the governor’s aides and allies at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

WHAT??? How DARE they make such a such a low-down, underhanded -- POLITICAL insinuation! I am SAUCED! Who do they think they're writing about, Justin Bieber? At long last, have they no shame at all???


rocktivity

[Laxman]

254. I Guess I Should Consider....

donating some money to the Republican Governor's Association. It seems like an investment that really produces great returns!

N.J. sells controversial pension investment in fund tied to Massachusetts Republican candidate, report says

The agency that invests New Jersey's pension money has sold its stake in a fund with ties to a Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate who gave money to New Jersey Republicans, according to a report.

The Department of Treasury has been reviewing whether New Jersey's $15 million investment in a venture capital fund managed by General Catalyst violated the state's pay-to-play law because its "executive-in-residence," Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker, had donated $10,000 in 2011 to the Republican State Committee, months before the state invested the money.

Now, Fortune, ­ citing a source,­ reports that the state Division of Investment has sold the stake anyway for a profit of about 1.5 times the cost.

According to the report, the Department of Treasury has not yet said whether the investment violated the state¹s pay-to-play law, which is designed to limit the influence of public contractors on politicians.

Read it here:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/09/nj_sells_controversial_pension_investment_in_firm_tied_to_massachusetts_republican_candidate_report.html#incart_m-rpt-1

[Laxman]

255. Christie Just Can't Stop...

causing damage to future generations. Money that was supposed to go to cleaning up the badly polluted Passaic River is being diverted to fill his budget holes created by his fiscal mismanagement. So he's screwed up the present and screwed up the future all at the same time. Imagine what he could do for the country!

$190M settlement in pollution suit would end decade-long legal fight over Passaic River

With the Occidental settlement, New Jersey has recovered $355.4 million in the Passaic River litigation. But only $67.4 million has been dedicated to natural resource restoration projects in New Jersey, state officials said Monday. The majority of the settlement funds have been diverted by Christie to balance the state budget, a move that has drawn criticism from several environmental groups.

Last year Christie took $147.5 million of the $165 million settlement for the budget’s general fund. At the time, administration officials said moving the money to the general fund amounted to paying the state back for $120 million it had already spent on Passaic River restoration over the past few decades.

About $50 million from the Occidental settlement is slated for natural resource restoration projects around Newark Bay, state officials said. That’s because the current state budget calls for the first $50 million in this type of settlement to be used for cleanups and legal fees. The rest can be used for any purpose.

[Laxman]

256. Maybe It's Nothing...

then again maybe people who have something to hide behave in this manner. If they all left for better jobs (except of course Bridget Kelly) why not just turn over the records?

Christie's office told to ID records on staff departures

A New Jersey Superior Court judge on Wednesday gave the Christie administration three weeks to certify which documents it has explaining the reasons why members of the governor's staff left their jobs earlier this year, rejecting the state's position that it was not required to do so under the Open Public Records Act.

Judge Mary Jacobson, the assignment judge in Mercer County, who handles most OPRA cases involving the state government, ruled that the state violated the OPRA law by refusing to provide documents requested by The Record in its coverage of the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal.

In addition, the judge granted an award of attorney fees to The Record. Jennifer Borg, the general counsel for North Jersey Media Group, which publishes the newspaper, said the amount of attorney fees could not be calculated until the case is concluded with the actual production of the requested documents.

Read the full article here: http://www.northjersey.com/news/crime-and-courts/christie-s-office-told-to-id-records-on-staff-departures-1.1090814

[Laxman]

258. Just A Quick Follow-Up...

to this remarkable series of coincidences.

How The Media (Briefly) Exonerated Christie

It started innocently enough last Thursday night – with a scoop from WNBC, the local affiliate in New York.

"Federal officials tell us the Justice Department has found no evidence so far that Gov. Christie had any idea about the plan to shut down lanes approaching the George Washington Bridge," reported WNBC's Jonathan Dienst.

There were two important elements of this statement. First, "so far." This indicated that the investigation is ongoing, as subsequent reporting by WNYC confirmed. Second, the anonymous officials told WNBC only that Christie didn’t know about the plan to shut down the lanes -- not whether he knew after the fact and tried to cover it up, a potential crime in itself. Nor does the story report on the status of other Bridgegate related investigations, like that of the alleged shakedown of the Hoboken mayor over Sandy aid, or the New York District Attorney’s probe of possible illegal use of Port Authority funds to pay for repairs to the Pulaski Skyway in Jersey City.

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/09/24/how-the-media-briefly-exonerated-christie#

Quod Est In Loco! Christie says he always tells the truth-except of course when he's not. See Rocktivity's post above for a few lying highlights from old "Honest Chris".

Here's 115 items (and counting) that tend to prove Christie is corrupt. All Brian Williams needed was one "anonymous source" to declare him innocent! Could something possibly be wrong here?

[rocktivity]

259. More bungling on Christie's watch?

Last edited Tue Sep 30, 2014, 03:06 PM - Edit history (3)

This time, courtesy of his moonlighting as head of the Republican Governor's Association:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/25/us/republicans-corporate-donors-governors.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0

New York Times: ...Republicans and Democrats, and groups sympathetic to both, spend millions on sophisticated technology...to make their own information secure. But sometimes a simple coding mistake can lay bare documents and data that were supposed to be concealed from the prying eyes of the public. Such an error by the Republican Governors Association recently resulted in the disclosure of exactly the kind of information that political committees given tax-exempt status normally keep secret, namely their corporate donors and the size of their checks...

The documents, many of which the Republican officials have since removed from their website, showed that an A-to-Z of America’s most prominent companies, from Aetna to Walmart, had poured millions of dollars into the campaigns of Republican governors since 2008. One document listed 17 corporate “members” of the governors association’s secretive 501(c)(4), the Republican Governors Public Policy Committee, which is allowed to shield its supporters from the public...

While none of this is illegal, it is certainly not in the public interest. And I'm not buying the coding error story: I think this happened deliberately. Either the RGA has a mole, anonymous hackers have struck, or orders have come down to to start pushing Christie away from the 2014 midterm elections if not out of the 2016 presidential race. Of course, it didn't help Christie that his latest self-exoneration gambit backfired. And it's probably just another one of those crazy Christie coincidences that these stories all appeared within the past seven days:

All signs point to Jeb Bush prepping for 2016 presidential run

Pat Roberts bringing Jeb Bush, Sarah Palin to campaign in Kansas

Jeb Bush campaigns for 2014 GOP candidates, weighs presidential bid during stops in NC

GOP’s looming ’16 civil war: How Jeb Bush’s new moves will divide the party

Romney 2016 is for real

Ted Cruz Is Prepping a Foreign Policy-Focused Presidential Campaign

Hint, hint...


rocktivity

[Laxman]

260. This Is A Disturbing Take...

Last edited Fri Sep 26, 2014, 04:00 PM - Edit history (2)

on the investigation. Mr. Manzo seems to feel that Christie will be allowed to skate because of the courtesies for members of the U.S. Attorney's "club". For what it's worth I had heard a similar report from somebody who has friends who are members of that club, but their reasoning was because there were no wiretaps or informants and the U.S. Attorney doesn't like cases that aren't slam dunks.

U. S. Attorney Spokesperson on Bridgegate: Ignore Leaks of Our Intentions to Clear Christie

By Louis Manzo September 24, 2014

Governor Chris Christie gave the appearance of a cat who swallowed a canary as he chastised and taunted members of the legislative committee investigating him last Thursday [September 18, 2014]. “They’ve been irresponsible,” Christie charged. “These are people who are addicted to MSNBC and the front pages of your newspapers,” he further declared to a gallery full of media.

The Governor’s remarks mysteriously coincided with the song of another canary, this one chirping inside the offices of federal prosecutors in New Jersey, which later in the day let the cat out of the bag regarding information about the United States Attorney’s Office’s [USAO] supposedly surreptitious investigation of Bridgegate and other matters. The news that Christie would not be charged in the probe might be considered a sort of in-kind contribution to the Governor’s stealth presidential campaign from prosecutors in his former office.

Expect the scapegoats and the low-hanging fruit that Governor Christie served up to the media and prosecutors to suffer the consequences for creating the world’s most famous traffic jam—the event that seemingly everyone of importance in Christie’s office, with the exception of Christie, knew about

read the rest here: http://www.ruthlessambitionthebook.com/blog-ruthless-ambition/

What a remarkable coincidence, huh? Press conference and the leak all in the same day. Who would have guessed.

[Laxman]

261. For Those Keeping Score At Home....

Here are the Bridgegate costs according to the Christie Tracker:

Bridgegate Costs As of Sep 3 2014

Billed to taxpayers and tollpayers
$9,381,936.47

Here's the break-down

Governor's Office
$7.2m

Legislative Investigative Committee
$997k

State Employees
$860k

Port Authority Employees
$401k

You also might want to drop by and like the Facebook page Chris Christie - Indict, Impeach, and Imprison.

[Laxman]

262. The Suburban Sociopath....

or maybe "The Psycho of Mendham" would be good monikers for this dangerous man. From the very first time he looked into a camera with his adoring wife and baby next to him and lied about his opponents in the Morris County Freeholder race to lying to the press about the failed Race to the Top application to his "pick which story works best" press conferences about Bridgegate and everything in between and since. He's not just a bad person, there is something wrong with this guy and he's continuing to press on towards the White House. He'll do anything, say anything, hurt anyone to get ahead, step on anybody in his way and bully his path forward. He needs to be contained while his only damage is to our fair state. I'm no psychiatrist, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night (that's a lie) and I think it's pretty clear that this man is a sociopath.

The Sociopathy of Chris Christie

The ability to disconnect from the truth and create one's own reality is an effective tactic for career advancement in the U.S. attorney's office. The "crimes" alleged by federal prosecutors need not necessarily bear a particularly strong semblance to the actual fact pattern, for more important than what actually transpired is the prosecutor's version of what occurred. Embellishment, prevarication and outright deception have long proven to be powerful prosecutorial tools. Christie's tenure as U.S. attorney was served well by these methods, allowing him to rack up a superficially impressive record as a crime fighting federal prosecutor. Serving as the chief federal prosecutor for the district, with near limitless discretionary power, likely fed into his despotic/authoritarian tendencies which are often exhibited by sociopaths.

While all sociopaths lie, falsifying and misrepresenting does not necessarily make one sociopathic. Lying is often recognized as being sociopathic when those asserting the lies allow their fabrications to become their own reality. A sociopath often cunningly lies in order to gain or achieve something. In Christie's case, the over-arching goal was career advancement. The rules in federal court, grossly stacked in favor of the government, allow federal prosecutors to routinely replace actual facts with their more self-serving version of events. In short, insistence upon creating their own reality and ignoring inconvenient facts is rewarded with their subjective reality displacing the real one, at least as far as the relevant legal proceedings are concerned. So it should come as no surprise that Christie continues to deny any wrongdoing, even in the face of mounting evidence to the contrary. It is a strategy that has served him well in the past. Nevertheless, continuing to lie despite a growing body of contradictory facts reveals a significant element of Christie's sociopathy. In many ways, this chronic mendacity is precisely what one would expect.

Christie's blossoming feud with former appointee David Wildstein allows further insight into Christie's pathology. Given that retaliating for perceived slights and subsequently upping the ante is another hallmark of sociopathy, Christie's actions in regard to Wildstein's perceived perfidy are practically textbook. Christie, at his January 9, 2014 press conference, took to insulting Wildstein and claiming he was something akin to a passing acquaintance. This despite the fact that they attended high school together and have been associated professionally for many years. Ready for the pointing out of this inconvenient fact, Christie explained that while they were indeed at same high school, they were on disparate trajectories.

Read the rest here: http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Sociopathy-of-Chris-Ch-by-Barry-Sussman-Chris-Christie_Chris-Christie_Prosecution_Scandal-140208-879.html

[rocktivity]

263. It's worse than that

So much worse they haven't officially named it yet:

None of the existing formal diagnostic categories in psychiatry today addresses adequately the issues of excessive power-seeking, corruption and destructiveness. Excessive power strivings both poison the personality of the individual who is obsessed in his spirit and mind with power and do unacceptable harm to other peoples' lives...

I originally named it Ted Cruz Sydrome -- originally.


rocktivity

[Laxman]

264. The Pig Farms May Be Gone....

but the pigs aren't-and they're gathering at the trough. Why would the state of NJ be looking at the dying casino industry in Atlantic City as it fails and still be calling for the construction of new casinos in the Meadowlands? It all starts to fall into place now. Sheldon Adelson, Triple Five (famously a "special" client of David Samson), Jeff Gural (represented by Christie cronie John Inglisino) and others with an inside track to the Christie administration stand to profit handsomely.

With pig farms gone, Sheldon Adelson mulls a casino in Meadowlands

Las Vegas casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson says he would be interested in building a casino in the Meadowlands – now that Secaucus is no longer as he remembers it.

Adelson, the keynote speaker at the Global Gaming Expo event in Las Vegas Wednesday night, explained why he might invest if given the opportunity.

“Secaucus doesn’t have the pig farms it used to have,” said the 81-year-old Adelson, who was in the U.S. Army more than a half-century ago. “It used to rain the odor of pig farms on the Meadowlands. When I was stationed on Governor’s Island in New York City, I could smell Secaucus from Governor’s Island. We don’t have that anymore, so that would be a very attractive place to build.”

snip

If a casino is ever authorized at the Meadowlands, the bidding could be complicated.
Meadowlands Racetrack operator Jeff Gural has an option for a $110 million refund of his new grandstand should casino gambling come to the Sports Complex without his involvement. Triple Five, the developer of the American Dream Meadowlands shopping and entertainment project, has certain rights to build a hotel at the site should a casino be built.

read the article here: http://www.northjersey.com/news/with-pig-farms-gone-sheldon-adelson-mulls-a-casino-in-meadowlands-1.1101173

It's amazing what a billionaire's money can buy these days! And I'm certain that none of this was discussed when Christie went to kiss Sheldon's ring back over the summer-or when Samson & his associate (and former Christie administration official) Lori Griffa negotiated Triple Five's lease. Quod Est In Loco! They're all here-Samson, Grifa Inglisino, Triple Five, Sheldon Adelson-oink oink! Doesn't this at least pique the interest of the U.S. Attorney's office or are they too busy with the Real Housewives of NJ?

[Laxman]

265. Way Back In January....

there was a little dust up about a gas pipeline being proposed for the Pinelands of south Jersey. I posted this http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024332748 about the issue (the lightning picture is still cool!). A little more digging revealed that a top Christie Staffer-Christine Renna-was married to the president of South Jersey Gas, the company that was trying to get the pipeline project approved. Nothing to see here, right? Well it all smells very bad, like everything else this administration touches. There was an article about the relationship (see Digest item #24) and Christie's mouthpiece shrugged it off as much ado about nothing. Well, when the Star-Ledger tried to do a little more digging, Christie stonewalled their efforts to get any more information. Last week the court said they had to turn over e-mails to the newspaper and guess what-Renna and her husband did in fact discuss the pipeline project via her state e-mail account. All in a day's work, right?

Christie aide discussed pipeline with husband, a top exec at firm behind project, emails show

An aide to Gov. Chris Christie traded emails last year about a controversial gas pipeline through the Pinelands region with her husband, who is a top executive at the company behind the project, records obtained by NJ Advance Media show.

The messages, including one about how the Pinelands Commission members may vote on the project, were sent the same day a member who opposed the pipeline said he was told the State Ethics Commission had ordered him to recuse himself.

The governor’s office released the records Oct. 2 in response to an order by state Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson, who ruled they were wrongly denied under an Open Public Records Act request filed in February. The request was made by The Star-Ledger.

In its response, the governor’s office said the records were related to an ongoing investigation pertaining, at least in some way, to the pipeline. But it declined to identify the nature or target of the investigation, or the agency conducting it.

The emails were exchanged Dec. 12, 2013, between the aide, Christina Genovese Renna, on her governor’s office account, and Michael Renna, who is president and chief operating officer of South Jersey Industries, the parent company of South Jersey Gas, which wanted to build the pipeline in the environmentally sensitive area.

read it here: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/10/christie_aide_discussed_pipeline_with_husband_a_top_exec_at_firm_behind_project_emails_show.html#incart_story_package

[rocktivity]

266. More money laundering Christie style

http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/10/if_property_tax_numbers_dont_suit_his_message_gov_christie_wipes_them_from_the_record_editorial.html

Gov. Chris Christie has expunged several years of data regarding property tax rebates, a sure sign that he is trying to hide his atrocious record. What other motive would explain it?

...The...burden on the average family in New Jersey has increased much faster on Christie’s watch. An analysis by NJ Spotlight showed that the burden rose by 18.6 percent in Christie’s first three years, triple the rate of increase under Corzine....

So the administration could initiate an honest dialogue by putting the website numbers back, as a 72-1 Assembly vote suggested last Tuesday. Or it can continue its longstanding government practice of hiding behind fuzzy math.

Fuzzy math: a Republican specialty first cooked up by Richard Nixon, as I recall -- I mean, as I would recall if I were old enough!


rocktivity

[rocktivity]

267. How the New Jersey State Investment Council Invests

International Business Times: In...2011...Gov. Chris Christie...installed his longtime friend Robert Grady to oversee the state pension fund’s investments... Grady was...pushing to entrust up to $1.8 billion of New Jersey pension money to the Blackstone Group... But one...of the private equity funds New Jersey was investing in -- a pool of money called Blackstone Capital Partners VI -- claimed among its investors a Wyoming-based company named Cheyenne Capital. That company's list of partners included one Robert Grady. In short, Grady was pushing to invest New Jersey public money in the same Blackstone fund in which his own firm was investing...

The website of Cheyenne Capital lists Grady as a managing director...(and)...as a partner in the firm. New Jersey financial disclosure forms list Grady as having a personal ownership stake in Cheyenne Capital Fund, which made the investment in Blackstone Capital Partners VI. The forms also say Grady currently earns compensation from the Cheyenne Capital Fund. Yet in the section of his financial disclosure forms asking officials to list “any direct or indirect interest...in any contract made or executed by a government,” Grady did not list Blackstone Capital Partners VI, despite Cheyenne and New Jersey's investments in that fund...

In August 2012, Blackstone Capital Partners VI used money from its investors to finance a deal involving Knight Capital Group...(which)...suffered...a computer glitch...(that) sent share prices plummeting on the New York Stock Exchange... Blackstone had been joined in its rescue of Knight by another firm, Stifel Financial, which later acquired a piece of Knight's trading and sales operations. Among the members of Stifel's board was Grady, according to corporate documents...

Wow, talk about multi-tasking -- pass the superhero cape! But look at the thanks he gets:

“...Mr. Grady had an unacceptable conflict of interest that he failed to disclose,” said...Assemblyman John Wisniewski, a Democrat who chairs the New Jersey legislature’s Select Committee on Investigation. “The health of our pension system is of paramount concern not just to (those) who are...or...hope to...collect...their pensions, but also to the entire citizenry of New Jersey who bear an ultimate responsibility to pay those benefits. To find out that the people entrusted with faithfully administering that system are potentially self-dealing for their own benefit is troubling and should be investigated.”

In other words, as a high-ranking public official, should Grady be in the employ of ANY private firm, especially one that does business with the public service he's providing? When David Samson was asked that question about running the Port Authority while also running a law firm whose clients did business with the Port Authority, he ended up resigning...


rocktivity

[Laxman]

268. As Much About Massachusetts....

as it is about New Jersey-the details of the dirty little agreement between Christie and Baker regarding management of NJ's pension funds should be of particular interest to Bay Staters worried about the race between Baker and Martha Coakley.

Chris Christie Blocks Release Of Pay-To-Play Probe Of Charlie Baker, Massachusetts GOP Nominee

As chairman of the Republican Governors Association, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has helped Charlie Baker with millions of dollars worth of ads supporting his Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign. But that's not the only way he may be boosting the GOP candidate in the final weeks of a close election: Christie officials are blocking the release of the findings of New Jersey's pay-to-play investigation into Baker.

The documents being withheld pertain to an investigation of Baker's $10,000 contribution to the New Jersey Republican State Committee. The contributions came just months before Christie officials gave Baker's company, General Catalyst, a contract to manage New Jersey pension money. New Jersey's pay-to-play rules prohibit contributions to state parties from "any investment management professional associated" with a firm managing state pension money.

When the campaign donations and subsequent pension contract came to light in May, Democrats criticized Baker, who was then launching his 2014 campaign for governor of Massachusetts. In response, New Jersey launched a formal investigation into Baker's contributions. The Newark Star-Ledger reported at the time that Christie officials "said the review would take several weeks."

Five months later, with Baker now neck-and-neck in the polls with Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley and backed by more than $5 million from the Christie-led RGA, Christie officials have denied an open records request for the findings of the investigation.

read the rest here: http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-blocks-release-pay-play-probe-charlie-baker-massachusetts-gop-nominee-1708016

[Laxman]

269. The Infamous Freeholder Ad...

that got Christie sued for defamation. Its frightening that he could sit there with his wife and baby beside him and lie to the camera. There is something seriously wrong with this man!

The internet can be an amazing thing!

[Laxman]

270. In Another Classic Example...

of his policy and fiscal failure, the good governor has not only placed the entire NYC region at risk by failing to upgrade infrastructure, but has also cost taxpayers billions with his bungling! Nice job Chris-tell us again how cancelling the ARC project was to save us money!

Analysis: New Jersey Facing Hefty Price Tag For New Rail Tunnels

With the two century-old tunnels that carry Amtrak and NJ Transit trains into New York City badly damaged by superstorm Sandy and facing eventual year-long shutdowns for needed repair, Amtrak officials are reshaping their $13.5 billion Gateway tunnel project into a “rescue operation” that would focus on building the new rail tunnels first and worry about expanding Penn Station later.

How much New Jersey would have to kick in for the new tunnels is yet to be determined, but it is likely to cost more than the Access to the Region’s Core (ARC) rail tunnel that Gov. Chris Christie cancelled four years ago.

Congress is certainly expecting New Jersey to pay more: The Amtrak reauthorization law passed three years ago directed the Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission (NEC) to develop a new cost allocation formula that would ensure that there is “no cross-subsidization of commuter, intercity, and freight rail service.” The purpose is to make sure that NJ Transit and the seven other state commuter rail systems from Massachusetts to Maryland pay their fair share of both operating and capital costs with no hidden subsidy from Amtrak, whose federal subsidy is constantly under attack in the GOP-controlled House.

While the commission has already missed last Thursday’s statutory deadline for implementation of the new cost-sharing formula, NJ Transit Executive Director Veronique Hakim, who represents New Jersey on the commission, acknowledged at a recent Alliance for Action forum that NJ Transit would undoubtedly end up paying more for its use of the Northeast Corridor to run commuter trains between New York and Philadelphia.

Read the rest here: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/10/22/analysis-new-jersey-facing-hefty-price-tag-for-new-rail-tunnels/

Imagine the damage he could cause as President! Maybe we can arrange to make him the leader of a country we don't like and he could bring them to physical and financial ruin in no time. He does have the leadership style of Saddam Hussein!

[rocktivity]

271. A Tragedy (for Christie) in Two Acts

Last edited Tue Oct 28, 2014, 02:29 PM - Edit history (3)

Corporate Donor To Christie-Led GOP Group Could Get $100M NJ Subsidy
http://www.ibtimes.com/corporate-donor-chris-christie-gop-group-could-get-100-million-nj-subsidy-1704201

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s administration Tuesday was expected to consider giving more than $100 million in state tax credits to a defense contractor that has made major financial contributions to the Republican political organization Christie chairs. If approved, the tax credits to Lockheed Martin would be similar to other taxpayer subsidies awarded by Christie officials to major GOP donors...

Internal Revenue Service documents show the Lockheed Martin Employees Political Action Committee in 2014 made a $50,000 contribution to the Republican Governors Association, which Christie chairs. The same PAC made a $25,000 contribution to the RGA in 2013, when the organization backed Christie’s re-election campaign. Additionally, IRS documents show Lockheed Martin Corp. made a $25,000 contribution to the RGA in 2013...

Chris Christie Officials Delay $100M Subsidy To GOP Donor
http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-officials-delay-100-million-subsidy-gop-donor-1704666

Gov. Chris Christie's New Jersey Economic Development Authority Tuesday abruptly postponed a proposed $100 million subsidy to Lockheed Martin for an unspecified project in Camden. The decision came only hours after a...report revealed prior to the proposed subsidy that Lockheed Martin and its affiliated PAC made large contributions to the Christie-led Republican Governors Association... Announcing the delay of the $100 million subsidy...(a) NJEDA spokeswoman told the Cherry Hill Courier-Post: "As is sometimes the case with projects the EDA board is set to consider, additional materials are needed to move forward."

...Christie has awarded more than $4 billion worth of such subsidies at the same time Christie has said the state cannot meet its pension obligations...

But what's a good tragedy without an epilouge?

Chris Christie: New Jersey Bill Challenges Governor's Subsidies To GOP Donors
http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-new-jersey-bill-challenges-governors-subsidies-gop-donors-1706462

New Jersey lawmakers advanced pay-to-play legislation aimed at cracking down on political contributions from corporations receiving state tax subsidies...The...bill is expected to now move to the full Senate for a vote...

Over the last year, New Jersey politics has been roiled by revelations that state contracts have been given to firms whose employees have made major contributions to Republican groups backing Governor Christie's election campaigns. That has included contributions from employees of Wall Street firms hired by Christie's State Investment Council to manage pension money. It has also included contributions from employees of firms receiving tax subsidies from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, which is run by Christie appointees...

Music provided by the DU "Cry Me A River" String Quartet:


rocktivity

[Laxman]

272. Perhaps We Should Just Invest....

all of the state's pension money in the RGA. Its an investment that appears to have a guaranteed return! I heard Donald Trump was begging for some NJ taxpayer funds to keep his casino afloat today. THAT seems fair too.

[Laxman]

275. Christie Was Dealt A Defeat.....

when the legislature held his two nominations to the Pinelands Commission who were being sent to do his bidding on the Koch Brothers pipeline. More than just the defeat, it highlights his woeful record on the environment and his means of governing-which is basically by intimidation and bullying. Here's a good summary of his approach to this episode. I especially like the "worships at the church of Koch" line.

Gov. Christie earned the Pinelands pipeline defeat: Editorial

So while you expect Christie to push his dubious energy agenda – the one he shares with too many South Jersey Democrats – the Senate Judiciary Committee was justified to freeze his two nominees to the Pinelands Commission last week for not offering their opinion about building a 22-mile pipeline through the Pinelands to the B.L. England plant. This project would benefit South Jersey Gas and its export ambitions more than it would the rate-payers of Atlantic and Cape May counties

Let’s be clear: The governor has a right to nominate like-minded people. But the legislature also has the right to reject them.

The governor’s strategy in the Pinelands echoes his strategy in the Highlands. He knows he lacks the leverage to repeal the protections outright, so he is undermining enforcement by packing the agencies that govern them with people who don’t support the mission.

Christie’s pro-development agenda is reckless on both fronts. The pipeline project he is pushing in the Pinelands was condemned by four former governors, two from each party: Brendan Byrne, Tom Kean, Christine Whitman, and Jim Florio. They said it would “compromise the integrity of the Pinelands Plan and serve to encourage future development.”

Still, after the Commission rejected the pipeline in January with a 7-7 vote (it would take eight ayes to pass), Christie decided it was time to stack the deck.

Some nay-votes came from Christie’s own appointees – including D’Arcy Rohan Green, a Republican fundraiser who was always an ardent environmentalist, even before Sandy reduced her Bay Head home to matchsticks.

Predictably miffed, the governor downshifted to Bully Ball: He vetoed the minutes from the January meeting, nullifying a five-percent raise the commissioners had proposed for 33 Pinelands employees, who have had nothing but salary reductions the last four years. He even called the raises a “gross abuse of authority” -- a knee-slapper for the guy who gave 27 staffers a $338,000 reward for his successful reelection campaign.

Then he went to work on retrofitting the commission by not reappointing the likes of Green. To use Gov. Florio’s delicate interpretation, “You never want to assume there’s bad faith, but it’s important to avoid even the perception that you’re trying to manipulate votes.”

Help yourself to that one. Christie has pulled the plug on RGGI, pinched more than $1 billion from the clean energy fund, has shown no interest in keeping his state from sinking, and routinely demonizes all regulations as job-killers.

In short, as he worships at the Church of Koch, he has relinquished all good faith pertaining to environmental discourse. The Pinelands Commission defeat is just the kind of constraint this governor has earned.

you can read the full editorial here: http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/10/gov_christie_earned_the_pinelands_pipeline_defeat_editorial.html

[questionseverything]

276. more stuff

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=10900

However, at the same time Guadano was announcing those emergency measures, she also --- without bothering to consult with election officials around the state --- tossed in one other emergency order [PDF] which, as we warned at the time, was likely to be a terrible mistake.

Guadano ordered emergency Internet Voting --- of a sort --- by allowing for voters displaced by the storm (and it would be left up to election officials' discretion to determine which voters were or weren't "displaced&quot to cast their ballots via email or fax.

We now know, thanks to a new report from the Rutger's School of Law [PDF], that, indeed, NJ's experiment with voting over fax and the Internet was a disaster, one that led to tens of thousands of unauthenticated votes in 2012, and which hasn't hasn't been reported by the media...until now...



Steve Friess at Al-Jazeera America broke the story last night, with tremendous coverage, in advance of the release of the report today.

The short version is that while some voters were allowed to print out a copy of their ballot under the ill-considered emergency measures, to be scanned and sent in via email or fax along with a waiver releasing their right to a secret ballot, they were also required to send in a hard paper copy of that ballot via snail mail for verification later. Ballots sent via email or fax were not to be counted as part of the official tally unless and until they were compared days after the election with the mailed-in copy.

"That step exists to prevent hackers from easily intercepting email sent to a county address," Friess reports. "Since the emailed votes comprise two documents, the waiver and the ballot, cybersecurity experts say it's easy to replace the ballots with ones that show other vote choices. Unless voters mailed in their paper ballots to be compared, the board of elections would never know something was awry."

[Laxman]

277. While Christie Was In Nebraska Campaiging....

back home the emperor's minions were hard at work abusing people to burnish his image. An old story to folks here in New Jersey. You see that's one of his guiding principals-along with Quod Est In Loco!

Chris Christie's Quarantine Quagmire Is Over (for now)

Hickox was being held in a tent within a building adjacent to the hospital. She was given take-out food by personnel in protective gear, and she was allowed use of a computer, smart phone and temporary toilet, but she had no shower or TV. At one point, she threatened to sue.

Soon, federal officials were criticizing Hickox's quarantine, saying it violated the protocol of the Centers for Disease Control and risked making Americans less likely to fly to Africa to treat patients. By Sunday night, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo had called a news conference with Mayor Bill deBlasio, in which the New York governor seemed to soften his stance on the same mandatory quarantine that he had announced Friday alongside Christie.

Cuomo deferred any questions about Hickox to New Jersey officials, which put Christie in a tight spot. He was now in the position of solely enforcing a quarantine against a nurse who had just spent a month saving lives in Africa. Also complicating matters was that Hickox said she was healthy, even as Christie reaffirmed that she was running a fever.

The political risk for Christie was that he wasn't even in the state. He spent the weekend campaigning for Republican candidates and laying groundwork for a possible 2016 presidential run. On Saturday and Sunday alone he appeared at a college football tailgate party with the Republcian gubernatorial candidate in Nebraska, at a pheasant hunt fundraiser for a conservative congressman in Iowa, at a birthday party for Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (where he slammed President Obama for his failure of leadership), and in Florida, where he did five events Sunday for Florida Gov. Rick Scott.

Who was in charge? Christie or the acting governor, Kim Guadagno? A spokesman didn't respond to questions about that on Sunday. And the quarantine led to lots of other questions, too, and not just among reporters. A source in New Jersey said high-level authorities didn't yet know if military personnel were also subject to the quarantine -- or if they had a legal basis for arresting someone who might refuse the mandatory quarantine. And which agency was in charge? The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey technically controls the two airports receiving Ebola patients, Newark and JFK, but at some point Port Authority Police Department was removed as the lead law enforcement agency for Ebola, a source said.

By Monday morning, Christie put an end to the Hickox quarantine. Saying she had shown no signs of illness for 24 hours, she was to be taken by private aircraft back to her home in Maine for possible quarantine there.

Read the full article here: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/10/27/chris-christie-s-quarantine-quagmire-is-over-for-now

or better yet, listen to an interview with the author here: http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/audio.wnyc.org/news/news20141027_ebola_christie_katz.mp3

[rocktivity]

279. Fortunately, some good did come of Christie vs. Hickox

Last edited Sat Nov 1, 2014, 01:42 AM - Edit history (1)

She's taught us that forehead temperature scanners are not reliable. All Ebola protocols should immediately be amended to require that above-normal forehead scanner readings be confirmed with an oral thermometer reading.

Of course, Hickox has only won the battle, not the war. If she should happen to go contagious within the next 15 days, I shudder to think of the public relations "I told you so" juggernaut Christie could drive all the way into the White House.

By DU-er WhenIwasInCongress:




rocktivity

[Beach Rat]

278. Holy guacamole laxman!

22,000 views!

[Laxman]

280. Two Years After Sandy.....

its probably time for a dedicated original post to the failure that Sandy recovery truly is in NJ. But for now, I'll just add this item about the day Christie acted like the ass hole that he is to a man who dared to say the emperor has no clothes (sorry for the visual)

Christie to Sandy heckler: 'Sit down and shut up!'

BELMAR — On the second anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, a crowd of 350 people stood at the intersection of 7th and Main Street under a mix of sun and clouds. This time, though, a new weather system had blown in: Hurricane Christie, the governor who brooks no hecklers.

When Jim Keady, annoyed at the pace of storm recovery, interrupted Gov. Chris Christie's speech to Belmar reisdents several times, the often combative governor told him: "Sit down and shut up."

As Christie began to speak, Keady, who runs an advocacy organization called Finish the Job, held a sign and shouted: “Do your job!"

"Yeah, you do yours, too, buddy,” Chrisite shot back, and continued speaking.

But the heckler wasn't standing down, and continued his tirade.

"Now, you all know me," said Christie. “So if we're going to get into a debate here today, it's going to get very interesting and very fun."

He wasn't kidding.

“I'll be more than happy to have a debate with you anytime you like, guy, because somebody like you doesn’t know a damn thing about what you're talking about except to stand up and show off when the cameras are here. I've been here when the cameras aren't here, buddy, and done the work. ... Turn around, get your fifteen minutes of fame, and then, maybe, take your jacket off, roll up your sleeves, and do something for the people of this state."

Keady, who said he is a lifelong resident, continued, "I was here for a month after Sandy, and ..."

Christie finished Keady's sentence for him.

" ... and there's been 23 months since then, when all you've been doing is flapping your mouth and not doing anything. So listen, you want to have the conversation later? I'm happy to have it, buddy. But until that time, sit down and shut up."

read the rest here: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/10/christie_lashes_out_at_hecklers_democratic_nj_senators_for_delays_on_sandy_aid.html

[rocktivity]

281. Kaci Hickox: The Joseph Welch of our generation?

Last edited Sun Nov 2, 2014, 02:21 AM - Edit history (4)

Joseph Welch is the guy who began the end of McCarthyism by asking on camera, "At long last, have you no sense of decency?" Jim Keady isn't the first person that Christie has blown off on camera, of course. But he is the first person that the cameras have pointed to afterwards:

That is not insignificant. And if you need proof of that, former Asbury Park city council member Jim Keady was subsequently invited to MSNBC and Al Jazeera for interviews on national television. And then there's this from the American Bridge political action committee:

The following request is being made in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.) and all other New Jersey open record laws.

At an event commemorating the two-year anniversary of superstorm Sandy on October 29, 2014, Governor Christie claimed “I've been here when the cameras weren’t here and did the work (on Sandy recovery).”

We respectfully request a list of all trips to which Christie was referring - specifically trips to the Jersey Shore to work on Sandy recovery, where no “cameras” – from the media or the Governor’s office – were in attendance to record the event.

By the way, Mr. Keady might be able to find the answer to his question by calculating two years' worth of interest on 800 million dollars -- interest that no one will notice isn't there. Thanks, Nurse Hickox!


rocktivity

[Laxman]

282. He Messed With The Wrong Redhead.....

Last edited Sun Nov 2, 2014, 10:11 AM - Edit history (1)

Christie's political dance on Ebola: Moran

Given the unfounded panic over Ebola in the United States, it’s likely that Gov. Christie will score political points by taking the world’s toughest stance, and vowing to knock down anyone who stands in his way.

"The American public believes this is common sense and we’re not moving an inch,” he said during a campaign swing through Florida. “Our policy hasn’t changed and our policy will not change."

This vow came shortly after a major policy change. And my guess is more changes are on the way, because the state’s rickety policy is still taking shape. It’s an improvisation that will move with the political winds.

The first policy was indeed tough. It mandated that any traveler from the heart of the epidemic in Africa who was exposed to Ebola patient would face a mandatory quarantine for three weeks, for those who don't live nearby that meant a visit to a plastic bubble constructed at University Hospital in Newark, like it or not.

“I don't believe when you're dealing with something as serious as this that we can count on a voluntary system,” the governor said.

But the first and only occupant of the bubble, a nurse returning from the front lines, was released after a few days and sent home to Maine, where a court found there was no rational justification for a mandatory quarantine. Maybe the judge didn’t fully appreciate the significance of the polls.

In any case, the nurse, Kaci Hickox, got out that bubble. That’s not moving an inch. That’s an about-face.

The governor explained: “She hadn’t had any symptoms for 24 hours and she tested negative for Ebola. So there was no reason to keep her.”

Well, yeah. Which means that Christie’s three-week quarantine is overkill.

That’s what the Centers for Disease Control says. And the American Medical Association. And the American Hopspital Association. And the New England Journal of Medicine. And pretty much every medical expert except one lone Nobel prize laureate.

I can’t go toe-to-toe with the Nobel laureate, Dr. Bruce Beutler. But the climate debate has proven that you could find an expert outlier to deny the existence of gravity if you look hard enough. I’ll stick with the herd.

No one in the Christie administration mentioned the magic 24-hour rule until the political heat rose over the confinement of Hickox. She complained that the tent was cold, that she had no shower, that the screeners treated her like like a criminal. And she pointed out that someone like her, with no symptoms, presented no threat.

The governor said she was “obviously ill” and that she was served meals from “the best restaurants” in town. Hickox was never ill and still isn’t. She got take-out from Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut.

read the rest here: http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/10/christies_political_dance_on_ebola_moran.html#incart_river

I'm pretty sure that there are better restaurants in Newark than Pizza Hut & KFC.

[rocktivity]

283. Sandy-Gate at a glance

Last edited Wed Dec 10, 2014, 02:05 PM - Edit history (6)

Source: New York Daily News



So the actual undisbursed amount is $945 million -- I stand corrected. Well, like I said, calculate the interest on it, and you might get a clue as to why it hasn't been disbursed.


rocktivity

[Laxman]

284. Guess What Christie's Friend The Cake Boss Said.....

when he was arrested! You can't arrest me! I'm the Cake Boss! Don't you know who I am? You see things are different when you're a FOC'er (Friend of Chris )

Buddy Valastro allegedly says to cops: 'You can't arrest me! I'm the Cake Boss!'

NEW YORK — When police officers stopped Buddy Valastro for allegedly driving while drunk, he protested that his pastry prowess barred him from arrest.

"You can't arrest me! I'm the Cake Boss!" he told police, according to prosecutors.

Valastro was arraigned Thursday evening at New York City Criminal Court on drunken driving charges. He appeared in a suit jacket and jeans and quietly listened to prosecutors describe what allegedly happened early Thursday morning.

Police spotted Valastro's 2014 yellow Chevy Corvette swerving in and out of his lane on 10th Avenue, according to authorities. Police said his face was flushed, and he was unsteady when he got out of his car.

He repeatedly told the police officers that they didn't need to arrest him, that they could work something out because he isn't "a bad guy," prosecutors said during the arraignment.

"Can you just put me in a cab?" he allegedly asked police. "You don't have to arrest me. I'm not a bad guy."

read the rest here: http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2014/11/buddy_valastro_to_cops_you_cant_arrest_me_im_the_cake_boss_authorities_say.html#incart_m-rpt-1


He's a big supporter of the governor-even baked him a birthday cake. See digest item #109.

[rocktivity]

285. Pension Hustler Robert Grady Resigns!

Last edited Thu Nov 20, 2014, 12:19 PM - Edit history (2)

Rocktivity (10/17/14): ...As a high-ranking public official, should Grady be in the employ of ANY private firm, especially one that does business with the public service he's providing? When David Samson was asked that question about running the Port Authority while also running a law firm whose clients did business with the Port Authority, he ended up resigning...

Chris Christie's Political Confidant And New Jersey Pension Overseer Resigns
http://ibtimes.com/chris-christies-political-confidant-new-jersey-pension-overseer-resigns-1726340

International Business Times: As Chris Christie draws closer to a run for president, there's intensifying scrutiny of donations flowing to his political organizations from executives at financial firms that manage ever-larger slices of New Jersey's $80 billion state pension system. Now, the Christie political confidant at the center of many of those questions is resigning. During today's meeting of the New Jersey State Investment Council, private equity executive Robert Grady announced he is stepping down from the chairmanship of the panel...

In recent months, campaign finance documents revealed that under Grady’s leadership, the state has awarded lucrative pension management contracts to hedge fund, private equity, venture capital and other so-called “alternative investment” firms whose executives made campaign contributions to Christie's campaign, his state party, the Christie-led Republican Governors Association and the Republican National Committee. The donations included a $10,000 contribution from Massachusetts Republican Gov.-elect Charlie Baker to the New Jersey Republican State Committee just months before Baker’s firm was given a New Jersey pension investment...

Christie has called Grady a "friend of mine for nearly 40 years" whom he relies on for political advice...According to Chief Investment Officer magazine, “several sources” assert that Grady’s resignation was prompted by a family health issue.

A family health issue -- did the prospect of being indicted made him sick? Another one bites the dust -- I love the smell of vindication in the morning...and evening...


rocktivity

[dixiegrrrrl]

286. What a stupendous post!!!!!!!!

to think I almost missed seeing this.

Marvelous posting.

[Laxman]

290. Make Sure To Come Back Often....

the list just keeps getting longer! You have no idea how bad of a person Christie is.

[Laxman]

287. Hidden In The Revel Casino Disaster.....

is the $300 million dollar investment in the Casino of public employee pension funds-all down the drain! Robert Grady, Chatham Asset Managers-they win. Public employees-they lose.

State takes $300 million pension gamble on Revel Casino owner

Atlantic City's beleaguered Revel Casino & Hotel has lost millions from the start, but that hasn't stopped New Jersey's pension system from placing a $300 million bet with the largest owner of the oceanfront resort.

The state agency that oversees the multibillion-dollar employee pension funds voted late last year to invest $300 million with Chatham Asset Management, the hedge fund that owns 28 percent in the troubled casino property.
The investment deal is complex. Although the state plans to invest in Chatham, treasury officials say the transfer of funds won't happen until later this year — when Chatham said it hopes to shed itself from the faltering casino. But treasury officials told the State Investment Council that there is no firm timetable for when Chatham will be out of Revel.

The 1,399-room Revel emerged from bankruptcy protection last year from nearly $1.5 billion in debt yet continues to have difficulty attracting customers. It ranked ninth out of 11 casinos in revenue last month, and is expected to be sold sometime this year for as little as $200 million to $300 million, a far cry from the $2.4 billion it cost to build.

The 47-story Revel, touted by Gov. Chris Christie as a model for Atlantic City's rebirth, has been a tremendous failure. It lost more than $100 million in its first year of operations.

Touted as a job creator, Revel was expected to employ 5,500 people but now has about 2,800 on staff. Meanwhile, as Atlantic City continues to struggle to compete with casinos in Pennsylvania and New York, the city's Atlantic Club Casino shut down in January, laying off 1,600 workers.

Read more here: http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/money/business/2014/03/15/state-takes-300-million-pension-gamble-on-revel-casino-owner/6472093/

[Laxman]

289. This Has The Look....

of a can of worms. The private company that has been engaged to operate New Jersey's Lottery (as well as Indiana and Illinois) also runs lotteries in Costa Rica and Columbia. They've cost NJ millions since being brought in to "professionally" manage the lottery operations. One can only wonder what kind of financial quagmire of slush funds and political donations are hidden in this tangled web of public/private partnerships.

Lawmaker calls for N.J. lottery review after revenue falls short

Christie’s administration hailed the arrangement as a financial windfall for New Jersey that would reinvigorate and modernize the lottery system in ways the state couldn’t. The governor pushed through the deal over the objections of the union representing lottery employees and New Jersey's Democratic state lawmakers.

Schaer jabbed Christie’s administration for “time and time again, without fail” exaggerating revenue estimates.

“This is not isolated. This is consistent. I don’t think they’ve been on track once,” he said. "One would think a Republican governor would in fact show a more conservative approach.”

read more here: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/11/lawmaker_calls_for_nj_lottery_review_after_revenue_falls_short.html

[rocktivity]

298. ...After Illinois declared the first privately run U.S. state lottery a failure

Last edited Mon Dec 22, 2014, 06:07 PM - Edit history (3)

New Jersey’s similar experiment is faltering...
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-24/n-j-lottery-missing-christie-goals-with-private-operator.html

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, a Democrat defeated this month by Republican Bruce Rauner...ended a contract seven years early with Northstar Lottery Group LLC because of “serious concerns.” Northstar...missed revenue targets for three straight years...

While it fell $1.6 million short of the fiscal 2014 goal, (Northstar partner company) Gtech delivered record revenue of more than $1 billion...(to) Indiana...which it signed to a 15-year contract in 2012.

(Northstar) pledged to outdo (New Jersey) government’s performance estimates by at least $1.42 billion over the life of the contract ...(Their) administration costs for the year ended June 30 were $50.3 million...a 45 percent increase from the $34.7 million under state control a year earlier...

Northstar took control Oct. 1, 2013...On Jan. 17, the treasury approved Northstar’s request for a “downward adjustment” to the income target “as the result of Superstorm Sandy,” according to a contract amendment. That storm struck 11 months before Northstar took over the lottery...For fiscal 2013, the last year under full state control, the lottery had ticket sales of $2.82 billion...the sixth-straight year of higher contributions... Patrick Diegnan, a...Democrat...who sponsored a bill vetoed by Christie that would have made lottery privatization subject to legislative approval...said...“It doesn’t make any sense...”

Fifteen million that could have gone to the lottery beneficiaries went straight down the drain. And Northstar should have been fired on the spot for that intelligence-insulting Sandy excuse -- why weren't they?

In 2013, Gtech gave $101,800 and (Northstar partner company) Scientific Games gave $76,000...to the Republican Governors Association, where Christie was chairman for a one-year term that ended this month.

Ask a stupid question...


rocktivity

[Laxman]

300. Well, You Just Knew....

something had to be up with this!

GTECH has paid Wolff & Samson Public Affairs $450,000 to be its lobbyist, starting in 2011, a relationship that is still in place.

Wolff & Samson Public Affairs is the lobbying affiliate of a law firm founded by David Samson, Christie's choice to lead the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Samson, a key name in the George Washington Bridge scandal, resigned as the authority's chairman in March after questions arose about his potential conflicts of interest.

GTECH also turned to Mercury Public Affairs of Westfield to handle public relations. Mercury's managing director Michael DuHaime, who runs the company's operations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, was the lead strategist for Christie's 2009 and 2013 gubernatorial campaigns. GTECH payments to Mercury are not publicly disclosed.

and then there's this little gem:

Two months after Christie lowered the revenue target, GTECH made a $100,000 contribution to the Republican Governors Association, a political committee where Christie is the outgoing chairman after a one-year term. GTECH gave $101,800 to the RGA in 2013 and Scientific Games, also part of the Northstar group, gave $76,000.

State officials said the contributions are in compliance with campaign finance laws and GTECH spokeswoman Angela Wiczek said there is no relationship between the donation and the company's work in New Jersey or in other states.

Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said any assumption that the donation was tied to the lowered revenue target "is a wild-eyed stretch."

"Connecting the two is completely nonsensical," Drewniak added.

Completely nonsensical, of course! That's a good one Mike! Tell me the one about gouging the guy's eyes out again, that cracks me up every time!

read more here: http://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/investigations/2014/12/05/nj-lottery-vendors-connection-chris-christie/19948237/

[rocktivity]

302. For fiscal 2013, the last year under full state control,

Last edited Wed Dec 10, 2014, 01:55 AM - Edit history (1)

the lottery had ticket sales of $2.82 billion...the sixth-straight year of higher contributions...

...Mercury Public Affairs'...managing director (is) Michael DuHaime, who...was the lead strategist for Christie's 2009 and 2013 gubernatorial campaigns...Mercury's relationship with GTECH "long predates Gov. Christie's tenure in office," said (a) Mercury spokeswoman...

Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said any assumption that the donation was tied to the lowered revenue target "is a wild-eyed stretch...Connecting the two is completely nonsensical..."

Northstar's request that the revenue target be lowered because of Hurricane Sandy not only "predated" their relationship with the New Jersey lottery, it was a "nonsensical wild-eyed stretch" of an excuse that should have been seen right through. Was Christie too complicit, too gullible, or too stupid not to?

And look whose head pops up yet again -- our old pal David Samson's, like the proverbial monster that can't be destroyed! As busy as he is, he even had time to run a lobbying group? Will wonders never cease!


rocktivity

[Laxman]

291. The State Bridgegate Committee...

will be releasing an interim report on Monday. Nothing Earth shattering is likely to be in there. It will consolidate and organize the testimony and evidence so far. It also notes that the investigation is on hold (still) as the U.S. Attorney CONTINUES their investigation. I don''t have a great deal of faith in this U.S. Attorney's office, but at least the investigation is still ongoing.

Christie bridge scandal report from legislative panel to be released Monday

An interim report by a joint legislative committee looking into the September 2013 George Washington Bridge access lane closures has been completed, and will be made public following a hearing in Trenton on Monday, the panel's co-chairman said.

State Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) said the report, compiled by the committtee's special counsel, Reid Schar, would be made available to members of the Legislative Select Committee on Investigation on Thursday. Wisniewski declined to discuss specifics of the report, or even to say whether he had read it.

"The report will speak for itself," Wisniewski said.

The completion of the interim report was first reported by polickerj.com.

Wisniewski did say the report would contain a recap of what had been learned to date by the joint panel, as well as by the Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee, which he also chairs and which had begun an investigation into Port Authority finances and operations following a controversial toll hike approved in 2011.

The committee's information has been gleaned through testimony and subpoenaed documents, including an email from a former deputy chief of staff in Gov. Chris Christie's office, Bridget Anne Kelly, telling a Christie-backed official at the Port Authority, David Wildstein, "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee."

Read more here: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/12/bridgegate_report_from_legislative_panel_to_be_released_monday.html#incart_river

[Laxman]

292. I Guess They Didn't Wait Until Monday To Release...

the non-exoneration exoneration. I'll post a link to the actual report as soon as it becomes available. Until then, don't just read the headlines-which appear to be deliberately misleading- delve instead into the substance (what there is) of the report and you'll see this is far from a report clearing Christie. And for about the 1,000th time-the legislative committee is a sideshow and the bridge fiasco is just a diversion from the criminal investigation by the U.S. Attorney and the 100 or so corrupt and criminal practices of Christie and his crew that are listed in this thread. And that's just what I (and Rocktivity and a few others here on DU) have been able to find. Anyway, read away:

Christie bridge scandal: Excerpts of legislative committee's new report

NO TRAFFIC STUDY

For months, Port Authority officials blamed the lane closings on a traffic study to measure the effect of closing two of Fort Lee's three access lanes to the bridge. That's what Port Authority Deputy Director Bill Baroni — a Christie ally — told the state Assembly Transportation Committee last November.

But the new report says there "is no evidence of a bona fide, professional managed traffic study."

"The record demonstrates that the purported study was, in fact, an excuse to cover up lane closures that were implemented for other reasons," the report says.
MOTIVE UNCLEAR

Though critics have speculated that the lanes were closed as political payback because Sokolich declined to endorse Christie for re-election last year, the report says Kelly and Wildstein's motive "remains unclear."

"Taken altogether, the evidence clearly suggests that the lane closures were intended as a punitive measure directed against Mayor Sokolich," the report says. "What the Committee cannot say for certain is whether the closures were intended as retribution for the Mayor's failure to endorse Governor Christie or for some other, unknown reason. Without current access to Kelly and Wildstein, and certain other witnesses and documents, the Committee remains unable to reach a definite conclusion as to what (and who) may have motivated them."
BARONI'S TESTIMONY QUESTIONED

The report says evidence indicates that Baroni, a former member of the state Senate, was aware of the lane closes before that happened, but it "remains unclear" what role he played. It also says there is evidence that Bill Stepien, Christie's campaign manager knew of the closures in advance, "but what exactly he was told and what involvement he may have had are unclear."

Still, the report says Baroni tried to get instruction from Kelly on Sept. 17 — four days after the closings ended — on to how to handle questions from Sokolich.

"These interactions reveal that Baroni was aware by this point, if not earlier, that a high-ranking individual within Governor Christie's administration, Kelly, was involved in the lane closure issues and was providing direction on how to manage the growing controversy," the report says. "The interactions also suggest Baroni did not truly believe the lane closures were a bona fide traffic study."

The report then notes that Baroni testified before the state Assembly Transportation Committee that a traffic study was to blame for the closings.

"Given what is now known, there are serious questions as to whether Baroni testified truthfully when he claimed that the lane closures had been part of a traffic study and that Fort Lee had remained in the dark simply because of communications failures between the Port Authority and Fort Lee," the report says.
CHRISTIE'S INVOLVEMENT?

Christie has denied any personal involvement in the matter. He also fired Kelly and cut ties with Stepien in January. At the same time, a report conducted by a law firm hired by Christie's office cleared the governor of wrongdoing.

But the new legislative report doesn't draw any conclusion. It notes, according to testimony from Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak, that Wildstein claimed he told the governor of the closures while they were occurring at a Sept. 11 memorial event in New York City.

"There is no conclusive evidence as to whether Governor Chris Christie was or was not aware of the lane closures either in advance of their implementation or contemporaneously as they were occurring. Nor is there conclusive evidence as to whether Governor Christie did or did not have involvement in implementing or directing the lane closures," the report says. "Nevertheless, according to Michael Drewniak's testimony, Wildstein has claimed that he informed the Governor of the lane closures at a 9/11 Memorial observance that the two attended. While the Committee currently has no means to independently evaluate Wildstein's reported statement, the statement, as well as the current lack of information from Wildstein, Kelly, Stepien, and others, leaves open the question of when the Governor first learned of the closures and what he was told."

Randy Mastro, the attorney whom Christie's office hired to conduct the internal review earlier this year, said in a statement: "The Committee has finally acknowledged what we reported nine months ago — namely, that there is not a shred of evidence Governor Christie knew anything about the GWB lane realignment beforehand or that any current member of his staff was involved in that decision. Thus, the Committee's work has simply corroborated our comprehensive investigation. And with this inquiry behind it, the Governor and his office can now focus on doing what they do best — serving the public interest."
RESPONSE OF CHRISTIE'S OFFICE

Though the report says the investigating has not been able to determine whether others in Christie's office were involved, it notes that the office "responded very slowly and passively to mounting indications that serious harms had been inflicted on thousands of New Jersey motorists for political rather than legitimate policy reasons."

It also says "the sequence of events, coupled with (the offices') evident lack of curiosity regarding the actual origin and purpose of the lane closures, at least raises questions (as yet unanswerable by the Committee) about whether key people in (the office), as events unfolded, took increasingly implausible explanations at face value because they knew or suspected a more damaging true story and preferred that it not come to light."
WITNESS TAMPERING?

The report notes that on Dec. 12 of last year, Kelly instructed Christina Renna, another Christie staffer, to delete an exchange in her personal Gmail account in which Renna had reported on a frustrated phone call from Sokolich regarding the lane closings and Kelly responded, "Good."

That, the report says, the state Assembly Transportation Committee had taken sworn testimony three three days earlier about the lane closings and "evidence indicates Kelly had asked to see a copy of Baroni's prepared remarks beforehand."

"Thus, there is ample evidence that Kelly was well aware of the
ongoing legislative investigation," the report says, and "as a result, her request that Renna delete a relevant email message may have violated New Jersey's witness tampering statute."

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/12/christie_bridge_scandal_excerpts_of_legislative_committees_new_report.html#incart_river

[Laxman]

301. Here You Go Sports Fans...

the link to the interim legislative report and exhibits. Don't go by the misleading and disingenuous articles telling you what the report says, find out for yourself here:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/lsi_report.asp

then check out the great analysis done by WNYC that gives a very interesting timeline on the whole text message issue:

Christie, Aide Texted As Bridgegate Cover Story Unraveled

A year ago, a New Jersey legislative committee held a hearing that blew the lid off official explanations of four days of traffic jams at the George Washington Bridge. It would be another month before the cause of the lane closures was traced back to an email from Gov. Chris Christie’s deputy chief of staff. And the governor still maintains he didn’t pay much attention to the controversy until he found out he was lied to by Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Ann Kelly.

But newly disclosed phone records - supplied by AT&T to the New Jersey legislature and obtained by WNYC - show that Christie's current Chief of Staff, Regina Egea, communicated by cell phone with Gov. Christie 12 times during that hearing on December 9, 2013. The Governor initiated the contact, about 30 minutes into the testimony, and sent a total of three texts to the aide. Egea replied nine times before the testimony concluded. The records show only one other text from Egea to Christie that month, on Christmas Day.

A timeline of the testimony, created by WNYC based on recordings of the hearing and tweets sent that day, shows that around the time of the text messages, witnesses delivered some of their sharpest blows to the Christie administration’s version of the Bridgegate events.

read it here: http://bit.ly/1u7YNTN

[Laxman]

293. Just A Note That May Be Of Interest....

to Bill "Billy Baloney" Baroni regarding his testimony before the Legislative Committee and perhaps to the NJ Office of Attorney Ethics....since its now clear that he gave willfully false or misleading testimony before the committee (see, for a lawyer it doesn't matter that you aren't under oath, lying to a "tribunal" is not permitted)

RPC 3.3 CANDOR TOWARD THE TRIBUNAL

(a) A lawyer shall not knowingly:

(1) make a false statement of material fact or law to a tribunal;

(2) fail to disclose a material fact to a tribunal when disclosure is necessary to avoid assisting an illegal, criminal or fraudulent act by the client;

(3) fail to disclose to the tribunal legal authority in the controlling jurisdiction known to the lawyer to be directly adverse to the position of the client and not disclosed by opposing counsel;

(4) offer evidence that the lawyer knows to be false. If a lawyer has offered material evidence and comes to know of its falsity, the lawyer shall take reasonable remedial measures; or

(5) fail to disclose to the tribunal a material fact with knowledge that the tribunal may tend to be misled by such failure.
(b) The duties stated in paragraph (a) continue to the conclusion of the proceeding, and apply even if compliance requires disclosure of information otherwise protected by RPC 1.6.
(c) A lawyer may refuse to offer evidence that the lawyer reasonably believes is false.
(d) In an ex parte proceeding, a lawyer shall inform the tribunal of all relevant facts known to the lawyer that should be disclosed to permit the tribunal to make an informed decision, whether or not the facts are adverse.
Comment to RPC 3.3

The Court has made two revisions to ABA Model Rule 3.3, which rule the Debevoise Committee recommended for adoption. One, the provisions of subparagraph (a)(2) are made applicable to "illegal" acts by clients, not just "criminal" and "fraudulent" acts. And, two, subparagraph (a)(5) has been added, which provides that attorneys shall not fail to disclose material facts that are likely to mislead the tribunal if counsel were to remain silent. This applies both to facts that are at issue in the case as well as facts relating to the management of the case. An attorney has an obligation to be candid and act with good faith toward the tribunal. See, e.g., In re Nigohosian, 88 N.J. 308 (1982); In re Herbstman, 84 N.J. 485 (1980); In re Turner, 83 N.J. 536 (1980).

So it might be nice if he were paid a visit from the Ethics Committee. He should be sanctioned or even disbarred for this.

[Laxman]

294. Will The Dominoes Start To Fall.....

once the indictments start to ? Nothing loosens the lips of a recalcitrant witness like the threat of prosecution. Who will give up the Governor to save their own ass?

Potential Indictments in George Washington Bridge Probe May Be Handed Down in January: Sources

Multiple sources familiar with the investigation into last year's traffic jams near the George Washington Bridge tell NBC 4 New York at least half a dozen potential federal indictments in connection with the scandal may be handed down as early as January.

Those facing potential indictment include former staffers to Gov. Christie and current and former Port Authority officials, the sources said. Possible charges may be related to what sources familiar with the probe describe to NBC 4 New York as an apparent conspiracy to cover up what they refer to as a politically motivated plot.

read more here: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/George-Washington-Bridge-Traffic-Jam-Fort-Lee-Chris-Christie-New-Jersey-Indictment-Port-Authority-284905201.html

Meanwhile, enjoy some Van Morrison

[rocktivity]

295. Even if he's the only one not indicted, he can't survive this

Last edited Wed Dec 10, 2014, 01:34 AM - Edit history (5)

For Chris Christie, good news is relative

...Part of the problem for Christie from the very beginning is that best case scenario ...Christie was...an inept and incompetent leader (with)... no idea that some of the top members of his team conspired to abuse their power in his name...(and) was clueless to the events unfolding around him...

Under normal conditions, this might sound like scathing criticism, but in Christie’s case, it’s his best defense. The governor’s backers – gearing up for a presidential campaign – are now prepared to boast that Christie’s aides crippled a New Jersey community on purpose for partisan political reasons, but the governor was too ignorant to be properly blamed.

For that matter, let’s also not forget that this isn’t the only Christie scandal that remains ongoing, and this report does not touch on the Hoboken allegations.

In other words, the governor and his supporters should probably keep the champagne on ice.

rocktivity

[Laxman]

303. Chris Christie's Economic Acumen....

continues to lead New Jersey straight down the toilet. In this week's installment of Chris Christie-Economic Genius we find our hero working hard on tanking the state's economy. Make sure to tune in next week when Christie invests the state pension funds with a former Nigerian dictator who promises to quadruple the current returns on the money!

Job surge skipping New Jersey so far

In the biggest surge in almost three years, employers nationwide added 321,000 jobs in November — a leap forward that threatens to leave New Jersey further behind.

Friday’s strong Labor Department report shows national job growth accelerating and that it now is above 2 percent year to date, outdistancing New Jersey’s lukewarm pace of 0.73 percent so far in 2014, as the state grapples with the lingering effects of Superstorm Sandy and the downsizing of key industries such as pharmaceuticals and telecom.

read more here: http://www.northjersey.com/news/job-surge-skipping-new-jersey-so-far-1.1147574

[Laxman]

304. Christie Crime Digest Vol. II....

Last edited Tue Dec 9, 2014, 06:24 PM - Edit history (1)

after 11 months, 304 replies, 114 recs., nearly 26,000 views and a lot of fun, I think I'm going to split this monstrosity of a post into two. It just takes too long to load up and is too unwieldy. Even though merely the effect of seeing so much stuff in one place speaks volumes about our favorite governor, I think its time for volume 2. I don't know how the next chapter will end, but I'm sure its going to be exciting. As for volume 1-I laughed, I cried, if your going to follow just 1 corrupt politician this year, make it Chris Christie. Volume 1 will always be here with not just the entries but some great information in the replies as well. Thank you to pnwmom, prosense, Willie T, Liberal Esto, Malaise, yortsed snacilbuper, and everyone else who pitched in, but mostly thank you to Rocktivity who is no doubt responsible for at least 2,000 of the 26,000 views and will not rest until Christie faces the consequences he has so richly earned and has a wicked sense of humor. I'll split the current Crime Digest at entry # 100. That seems about right. So keep coming back to Volume 1 for your research and make sure to follow and contribute to the next chapter when its posted. I feel like J.K. Rowling! Maybe we'll call it Chris Christie and the Goblet of Fire! Hopefully its actually Volume 2-The Prosecution. On to the next chapter. Find it here: Christie Crime Digest Vol. II

[Laxman]

305. I Thought I Was Done With This Volume....

but I guess I was wrong. An update to Digest entry # 57. Turns out Christie has more than just a bit of Nixon in him.

N.J. trooper who photographed protesters at Christie event was posing as media, AG says

A State Police trooper who was caught photographing protesters during one of Gov. Chris Christie’s town halls in March was posing as a member of the media in order to provide extra protection for the governor, an internal investigation has found.

The review was conducted by acting state Attorney General John Hoffman after the incident sparked backlash from Democrats and free speech advocates.

Hoffman concluded the plain-clothed trooper assumed the identity of a photographer to “blend in with the press pool” as part of a security detail, a spokesman, Paul Loriquet, said.

“The trooper took that position inside with his supervisor’s approval, but was providing security from that vantage point and was not there to take photographs,” Loriquet said. “His supervisor did not instruct him to take photographs.”

The review, disclosed in response to a request from NJ Advance Media, found no misconduct on the part of the trooper, but Hoffman concluded that posing as a member of the media is not an approved tactic for security details, Loriquet said.

Read the rest here:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/12/nj_trooper_who_photographed_protesters_at_christie_event_was_posing_as_the_media_ag_says.html#incart_m-rpt-1

Ahhh-life with a sociopath as governor.

[Laxman]

306. You Can Pick Your Friends.....

and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose. But when it comes to family, Christie's brother Todd just keeps popping up all over the place. It was Todd's Wall Street connections that enabled Christie to rise to power in the first place as a "Bush Ranger". They've been using their positions ever since.

Chris Christie Officials Give Atlantic City Contract To Firm Of Governor’s Brother

As one of its first moves in its state takeover of financially strapped Atlantic City, Chris Christie’s administration has awarded a lucrative government contract to the financial services firm that employs the Republican governor’s brother, Todd Christie. The deal followed an even bigger contract given to the firm by Christie officials only weeks after the governor’s brother began working there.

In January, Chris Christie signed an executive order installing an emergency management team to develop “a plan to place the finances of Atlantic City in stable condition on a long-term basis.” Two months later, Reuters obtained documents showing that Christie administration officials signed a contract with Ernst & Young, which hired Todd Christie as a New Jersey-based director in March 2013. Todd Christie is listed as working on the firm’s “business development” in campaign finance records.

The Christie administration contract will pay Ernst and Young more than $250,000 to provide financial analysis of Atlantic City. As the casino town faces a $101 million deficit and hotel closures, the deal cemented by Christie’s Department of Law also will allow Ernst & Young to bill taxpayers $455 per hour for other services, according to Reuters. The Christie administration gave the contract to Todd Christie’s firm at a time when New Jersey’s executive branch ethics code says that public officials may not use their positions “to secure a job, contract, governmental approval or special benefit for yourself, a friend or family member.”

“I hope the governor’s advocacy for the state takeover of Atlantic City was not simply to repay a favor to his brother, Todd Christie, for all of the support Todd has given him over the years,” said Assemblyman John Wisniewski, the Democrat who co-chairs the legislature’s investigative committee. “It is fair to ask questions any time you have the executive branch taking actions that at least on the surface appear to uniquely benefit somebody very close to the governor.”

In a statement provided by Christie spokesman Kevin Roberts, the New Jersey attorney general’s office said Ernst & Young was selected “based on its expertise in this area,” and noted that the firm had been involved in Detroit’s bankruptcy proceedings, which it says are “functions similar to the services they are providing in Atlantic City.”

Roberts did not answer whether the governor or his staff spoke with Todd Christie about conducting financial analysis of Atlantic City, and referred any questions about Todd Christie’s role at Ernst & Young to the company.

John La Place, a spokesman for Ernst and Young, said in a statement that, as a matter of company policy, "Todd Christie has no involvement in any work with the government of New Jersey." La Place said the Ernst and Young employees working on the contract are "highly qualified" and "have performed similar work for several other municipalities, most notably the City of Detroit." Todd Christie did not respond to International Business Times’ request for comment.

The Christie administration’s Atlantic City-related contract to Todd Christie’s firm follows Todd Christie delivering more than $50,000 to the Republican Governors Association, which backed his brother’s election campaigns. The governor’s brother also delivered a maximum $3,800 contribution to his brother’s reelection campaign after he started at Ernst & Young.

This is not the first time Todd Christie’s business has intersected with the government business his brother oversees.

Only weeks after Todd Christie started at Ernst & Young, Christie administration officials awarded the firm separate contracts worth more than $550,000 for auditing services in connection with the state’s expenditures on Hurricane Sandy recovery. Ernst & Young has said Todd Christie was not involved in the deal, and noted that Ernst & Young is a large company with many employees.

Todd Christie also was part of a group of investors who purchased and sold properties near public transit facilities that his brother’s appointees redeveloped, according to the Bergen Record. At an event touting the redevelopment, the governor joked that his father was the “lobbyist in the Christie family for this project.”

Todd Christie’s business dealings also came up during the 2012 presidential campaign.

Read the rest here: http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-officials-give-atlantic-city-contract-firm-governors-brother-1888988