A job to go with that contract and contributions

by: Jason Springer

Sat Mar 28, 2009 at 10:45:05 AM EDT

I wrote the other day about news that Chris Christie had taken nearly $24,000 from people tied to a law firm he awarded a $3million contract. But wait, there's more:

Before leaving office as U.S. Attorney last year, Christopher Christie hired Samuel Stern, the son of former U.S. District Court Judge Herbert Stern, to work as a federal prosecutor. Samuel Stern started work last month in the Appeals Division of the U.S. Attorney's office in Newark.

Hand out contract, check. Hand out job, check. Take money in return for your campaign, check. The US Attorney's office had no comment, but confirmed the hiring. This is what the American Spectator had to say before this latest news of family ties was added:

But there's no law that says you can't take a STATE contribution from someone you gave a FEDERAL no bid contract to. And that's exactly what Chris Christie, the GOP favorite to get the nod to take on Jon Corzine in the Fall has done. As U.S. Attorney, Christie gave the firm of Stern and Kilcullen a 7 million dollar no-bid contract. Now that Christie's running for Governor, the partners and their wives contributed $23,800 to Christie's campaign. Since New Jersey has 2-1 matching funds, it's more like they gave him over $70,000.
While this is not illegal, it sure looks terrible, especially when you consider that Christie has based his entire campaign on ethics and cleaning up New Jersey.

Move along, nothing to see here. Aside from the actual issue of the job and contributions, that line does point to the glaring hypocrisy of the issue when you compare it to the rhetoric of his campaign language. I would love to see the Republican reaction to a story like this if it was a Democrat and these details came out. It must just be ok if you are a Republican.

Jason Springer :: A job to go with that contract and contributions