"Panel Seeks Testimony on Ashcroft Deal," The New York Times, February 19, 2008, at p. B2.
"NEWARK (AP) -- United States Attorney Christopher J. Christie has been asked to testify before members of Congress about a multi-million-dollar contract his office awarded to former Attorney General John Ashcroft."
The scoop on this item is that Bob Menendez is getting a lot of buzz about being indicted and got on the phone to his pal, Nancy Pelosi. The hearings concerning this type of contract -- which is not unusual for the U.S. Attorney's Office in many jurisdictions -- are an attempt to distract N.J.'s U.S. Attorney and forestall any possible indictment of the junior Senator from the swamplands of Hudson County. I doubt that this will work.
The question to ask is whether the political parties are serious about stopping corruption and mafia involvement in local governments, even when a political price will have to be paid for doing so. The jury is still out on this issue -- at least, in New Jersey. February 26, 2008 at 9:53 A.M. new computer attacks this mroning prevent me from accessing my hotmail account or posting new essays at MSN. I will continue to write, focusing more on New Jersey corruption.
"The hearing before a subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee is scheduled for next Tuesday, the Star Ledger [sic.] of Newark reported on Monday."
After the $100-400 MILLION "inappropriately billed" to federal taxpayers at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), a Democrat Congress felt "no compelling need" to hold hearings inquiring into this level of fraud and theft, but this fairly standard contract involving a former U.S. Attorney General asked to monitor an entire company's operations, both nationally and internationally -- for a fraction of the sum stolen from UNDNJ -- is a source of concern.
Who's "unethical" this time, boys and girls?
"The subject of the inquiry is a contract that Mr. Ashcroft's Washington law firm received from Mr. Christie's office to serve as a federal monitor. The deal is worth $27 million to $52 million over 18 months."
Get who was chosen to step into this pile of shit:
" ... 'We're interested in knowing about the process by which he was selected to be the monitor and what exactly he's doing to earn the money,' said United States Representative Linda T. Sanchez, Democrat of California."
I bet Linda has reason to believe that if she screws over Ashcroft and Christie, she'll get the big money for a Senate run -- if Ms. Boxer steps down or retires. In any event, Linda will earn cookie points with the Hispanic Caucus for providing some cover for Menendez, even as she kisses some of the right asses in Democrat power circles. Payback by Republicans will be aimed at her, but they probably left out that part of the deal, even as they promised more "face time" for Linda before television cameras.
Is this any way to run a federal prosecutor's office? Should we not allow the U.S. Attorney to do his job? Can law enforcement be effective if the two parties do not cooperate and each accepts "contributions" from different crooks? I doubt it. Geez.
"Mr. Ashcroft was also asked to testify but has not responded, according to Ms. Sanchez's office. A phone message left at Mr. Ashcroft's law firm on Monday was not immediately returned."
