Stark Examples of Greed and Arrogance

by: vmars

Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 03:13:11 PM EDT

Back in March the Corzine for Governor campaign filed a bunch of Freedom of Information Act requests with the federal government for Chris Christie's financial and travel records.  The person who was put in charge of these requests, Michele Brown, turns out to be a frequent travel companion of Christie's to out-of-state football games and five star hotels in Chicago, Indianapolis and Boston.  She also got a $46,000 loan from Christie soon after the trip to Boston, a loan Christie forgot to mention on his federal and state financial reports.

Back in August, Brown resigned from the US Attorney's office after the loan became public, and the FOIA request was passed on to someone else.

Yet there are still outstanding FOIA requests almost 50 days later, requests that become more and more important as election day approaches.

One fulfilled request contained the reports that Christie liked to live high-on-the-hog on the taxpayer's dime while US Attorney, and allowed his subordinates -- including Brown -- to do the same.  That has caused a stir, particularly because wasting our money like that goes against Christie's promises as US Attorney and candidate to root out corrupt uses of public dollars.  

In fact, Brown traveled with Christie on the following trips:

• A three night trip in November 2007 to Chicago, Indianapolis and Boston that between the two of them cost taxpayers $4,500 -- including $800 for their hotel rooms in Boston
• A two night trip to Las Vegas in January 2008 that cost taxpayers $2,600
• A four night trip to London in August 2008 that cost taxpayers $8,800.

In Boston alone Christie spent $271 on limos in one day.

Yet just a couple years ago here's his take -- from his own press release of July 12, 2007 -- on what was the worst thing about Sharpe James:

"The allegations in this Indictment are stark examples of the greed and arrogance of unchecked power," Christie said.  "When Sharpe James had a choice between enriching himself or helping the people of Newark, he chose self-enrichment.  When he had the choice between impartially serving the citizens of Newark and the State of New Jersey or rewarding companions, supporters and himself with taxpayer money, he chose to cheat the people of Newark and the citizens of New Jersey." ...

During many of his trips and entertainment outings, James was with one or more of his eight female companions or other individuals whom he treated to the same luxury accommodations that he afforded himself, according to the Indictment.

Remember, this is a press release issued by Christie's own office, pointing out that treating female travel companions to luxury accommodations is cheating the people and stark examples of the greed and arrogance of unchecked power.

And Christie at least once took a subordinate woman to a five star Boston hotel and gave her a $400 a night hotel room, then followed that up a week later with a $46,000 personal and unreported loan.

That arrogance is still on display in the US Attorney's office, one which has taken more than seven months to provide basic information that should be available to the public.

We can only assume that as damning as the stuff they have released is, what they are hiding is far worse.