The Cherry on top of the Sundae?

by: Jason Springer

Mon Oct 26, 2009 at 01:00:00 PM EDT

Herbert Stern was one of the few prominent lawyers who initially supported Christie as he came under widespread fire for his lack of law-enforcement experience when he became U.S. attorney in 2002.

In 2005, former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie gave Herbert Stern and his law firm, Stern & Kilcullen, a $3 million no-bid contract to monitor the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Dec. 2005 as part of a deferred prosecution agreement after the institution admitted to committing Medicare fraud. Christie considers Stern a "mentor," according to the New York Times.

Before leaving the U.S. Attorney's office, Christie hired Samuel Stern, the son of Herbert Stern, to work as a federal prosecutor.

During his Republican primary campaign for governor, Chris Christie accepted $23,800 in campaign contributions from the principals and spouses of Stern & Kilcullen, the firm to which Christie had given a $3 million contract to monitor UMDNJ.

Herbert Stern and his wife each gave $3,400 to Chris Christie's gubernatorial campaign, as did John Inglesino and his wife. Inglesino, a lawyer at Stern & Kilcullen, had served as Stern's chief counsel in the UMDNJ case.

As time goes by however, we find out more details of the lengths Christie went to make sure Stern's son was hired:

Typically, candidates are subject to several rounds of interviews, meeting first with three rank-and-file prosecutors. If that goes well, they meet with three division supervisors. The final interview is typically with the U.S. attorney or a top deputy.

In Stern's case, he performed poorly in his first round, and none of the rank-and-file assistants who interviewed him recommended that he be hired, the officials said. He was given the unusual opportunity for a second chance with three different rank-and-file assistants, but again received negative reviews, the officials said.

Then on Friday, Nov. 14 - after Stern had met with just two supervisors - Christie offered him the job, the officials said. The following Monday, Christie announced his own resignation.

Christie hired Samuel Stern over objections from nearly every assistant U.S. attorney who interviewed him, according to three federal law enforcement officials with knowledge of the hiring process.

They contended Stern, who at the time was two years out of law school, lacked the experience to become a federal prosecutor, the officials said. And before hiring him, Christie took the unusual step of changing the interview process after receiving negative reviews, according to the officials who spoke to The Star-Ledger on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the matter.

IOKIYACC

by: huntsu

Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 06:25:13 PM EDT

For all of you who followed our work back when Blue Jersey was the lone voice talking about Chris Christie's misuse of his office, this one is for you.  For all of you who accused us of being on a partisan witch hunt, all I can say is ppppttttthhhhhhpppppptttttttttttt!

We already know Chris Christie used his prosecutorial powers to force corporations into paying his friends millions of dollars to watch over the business, thereby selling Get Out of Jail Cards to corrupt and criminal officers who got to keep their mansions unt deir yachts.

But now we find out that Chris Christie used those same powers and threats to get people fired who had committed no criminal offense or corrupt act.

Three years after being forced out of her high-profile post at the state's medical school under a cloud of scandal, Vivian Sanks King -- once the chief lawyer for the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey -- was quietly cleared by federal authorities.

In a rare letter last year from the office of then-U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, Sanks King was notified she "is not a 'target' or a 'subject'" of the criminal probes into wrongdoing at UMDNJ.

So Chris Christie himself says that -- in writing -- that Sanks King did nothing criminal or illegal.  And Christie's job at the time was to unearth criminal and illegal behavior and punish the crooks.  But King not being a crook didn't stop Christie from forcing her out of her job.

Christie forced Sanks King and three other officials out of their jobs at UMDNJ before he would enter into an agreement that would keep the university from being prosecuted in federal court.

Christie threatened UMDNJ official sthat he would not enter into a deferred prosecution deal with them unless they fired Sanks King, essentially giving them two choices:

• Fire Sanks King, use millions of taxpayer dollars to pay Christie's long term supporters (and future supporters) to review their work, and protect their careers and reputations by staying out of court (and maybe jail) or
• Keeps Sahks King, get indicted for their criminal acts, lose their livelihoods and reputations, and be ripped apart publicly by the US Attorney.

Needless to say, given that choice people who were engaged in corrupt or criminal acts are probably going to select the first option rather than the second.  Loyalty among thieves, and all that.

Christie's rationale for why it is acceptable for the US Attorney to force someone who committed no criminal or illegal act out of here job is that she was not good at it:

"When we entered UMDNJ in December of 2005, we found a publicly funded $1.6 billion-a-year institution which was violating multiple federal criminal and civil laws, had no legal compliance structure and had lost $400 million in taxpayer money due to fraud, waste & abuse," Christie said in a statement. "As general counsel, Ms. Sanks King was the corporate officer responsible for insuring that UMDNJ complied with the law."

Last I saw it was not a federal crime to be bad at your job.  In fact, under Christie's boss -- George Bush -- incompetence and failure on the job got you the Medal of Freedom.

Sanks King did nothing wrong to fall under the purview of the United States Attorney.  The Board of Directors should have fired her, maybe.  Or the CEO of UMDNJ.  But as US Attorney Chris Christie did not have the authority, the mandate or the power to have her fired.

But he wanted her fired.  So he used deferred prosecution agreements as a hammer to force her ouster though he had no right to do so because he was offended by her performance.  

Is that someone you want as Governor of New Jersey, a position that is as or more powerful than any public chief executive in the United State shy of the White House?

Not me.  Not me.

"The publicly reported facts that our multi-year criminal and civil investigation uncovered clearly prove she failed in her job and failed the taxpayers of New Jersey who paid her salary," Christie's statement said. "Not being charged with a crime is hardly an exoneration of that performance or a justification for continued employment."

Chris Christie did not work for the taxpayers of New Jersey.  Her failure on their behalf had no bearing on his job as US Attorney, and no matter how aggrieved he may have been at this failure it was not his job to set it "right."  By forcing her out of her job admittedly for state issues he misused his power, which is as bad as anything Sanks King did wrong.

Secondly, as clammyc says below, Christie has repeatedly defended his brother Todd by noting he was not indicted for performing hundreds of illegal trades on Wall Street.  Christie can't use a lack of indictment as a shield for his brother and a baton against Sanks King.

Unless, of course, you play by the rules known as It's OK If You Are Chris Christie.

A South Jersey Medical School at Last!

by: Hopeful

Sat Jun 27, 2009 at 04:17:20 AM EDT

Rowan University and Cooper University Hospital announced today that they are partnering in the formation of a new, four-year allopathic medical school in Camden, NJ which will be known as Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.

Yes, the latest thing I've learned is that allopathic means conventional medicene. I believe the story was broken by the Courier-Post. In any case, the new school in Camden is made possible by an executive order by Governor Corzine, which will go into force unless rejected within 60 days by the legislature:

The new medical school will be the first four year allopathic medical school in South Jersey.  Currently, Cooper provides clinical training to third and fourth year medical students from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Independent studies by both Cooper and UMDNJ concluded that there is a significant need for a four year medical school in South Jersey, and that Cooper and its medical faculty are well prepared to meet that need.  "We are appreciative of our 30 year relationship with UMDNJ. This affiliation has positioned Cooper for the endeavor announced today," added John P. Sheridan, Jr., President and CEO of Cooper.

The newly-established Cooper Medical School of Rowan University will be financed by existing annual allocations to the Camden Campus and will not require any additional taxpayer dollars.

The goal is to have the first class begin in September 2012. One long-term benefit will be that a stronger academic hospital will be able to compete with Philadelphia, helping keep the $2 billion that presently goes over the river.  More importantly, this will address the shortage of New Jersey doctors -- remember, the baby boomers will be retiring soon.  The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has been working to increase the number of medical school slots.

There's some grumbling from Essex County politicians that UMDNJ is losing turf, but they can only complain about feeling disrespected, not the merits of the plan:

Both Rice and a UMDNJ spokesman, however, acknowledged Rowan was in a better position than UMDNJ to finance the new medical school venture because of its healthier bonding capacity. Rowan plans to issue $100 million in bonds for the new school.

I don't know what will happen in the fall election, but this move by Governor Corzine will benefit New Jersey for the rest of this century.

Jersey Guys to Christie on 101.5 -Then we can't trust you

by: Jason Springer

Fri May 29, 2009 at 07:51:45 PM EDT

First brother Todd tried to call in to answer their questions off air, but the Jersey guys wanted none of that. Then Chris called in toward the end of the show to talk about campaign advisor John Inglesino and allegations whether he was hired by Republican Sen. Joe Pennacchio in order to earn state pension credits.

From the second Christie got on the line, the Jersey Guys went after him and hard.  Christie tried to make some jokes and work in some talking points, but the host wanted to have none of it and said Christie needs to hold himself to his own word:

We want to hold you to the standards that you told us you would hold other people to. Instead of being part of the solution, you're starting to sound more like the problem.

Inglesino co-hosted a $500-a-plate fundraiser for Christie a week after the candidate said he'd reject all future campaign donations from lawyers to whom he awarded no-bid contracts as U.S. attorney.

Inglesino's law firm earned $3 million after Christie appointed it to monitor an out-of-court corporate fraud settlement. He, his law partners and their wives gave Christie's campaign the maximum allowable donations.

Christie lashes out

by: Jason Springer

Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 09:59:28 PM EDT

But Christie has some 'splaining to do, in the immortal words of Ricky Ricardo. The point of ethics laws, as with his suggested ban on public jobs for politicians, is not merely to avoid impropriety, but to avoid the mere appearance of impropriety. And in this case, Christie created the appearance of impropriety every bit as much as Paris Hilton creates the appearance of a celebrity airhead.

"I'm not going to stand around and be a political punching bag of caddies for candidates who don't have a record to sell, a story to tell, and actually attack the candidates who do have something to sell," said Christie.

A job to go with that contract and contributions

by: Jason Springer

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

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.

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.

Bryant guilty!

by: Hopeful

Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 02:38:24 PM EST

The federal jury convicted Bryant on a bribery charge for soliciting a job at the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Camden County and using his influence as budget chairman to help the school acquire $10.5 million in state grants between 2003 and 2006.

The jury also found Bryant, 60, of Lawnside, guilty of mail and wire fraud stemming from the $35,000-a-year "low-work" job he got at the school, run by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

PolitickerNJ observes that this keeps perfect Chris Christie's record on convictions for public officials he has charged.

Have at it in the comments.

Updated by Jason Springer-  Here is a statement from Speaker Roberts:

"Today's verdict underscores the need to build upon the reforms we've already implemented in the budget process and go even further on strengthening our ethics laws.  I look forward to working with the governor and the Senate to accomplish that goal."

It ain't over...

by: Thurman Hart

Tue Oct 28, 2008 at 03:36:32 PM EDT

The U.S. attorney opened another investigation into the state's medical university Monday, following allegations the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey overcharged Medicaid and Medicare by millions of dollars -- even while under the supervision of a federal monitor.

Three subpoenas were served on the state institution shortly after 4 p.m. One sought documents, while the others summoned university president William F. Owen and executive vice president Denise V. Rodgers to testify before a grand jury, according to two people familiar with the investigation who declined to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.

My question is this: Since this went on under the nose of a federal monitor, does that mean the monitor's salary will be paid back?  If not, why not?

Corzine wants task force to look at Police suicides

by: Jason Springer

Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 11:13:00 AM EDT

Corzine's office says there was an average of 12 New Jersey law enforcement suicides each year from 2003 to 2007. Their have been eight so far this year.

The 14-member task force will develop a strategy to help law enforcement officials to deal with stress and other mental health issues among officers.

They called it the COP 2 COP line and said by 2007, it had already taken over 20,000 phone calls and averted 64 imminent suicides.

"Police officers are four times more likely to commit suicide than to be killed in the line of duty," said Cherie Castellano, program director of COP 2 COP at the UMDNJ-University Behavioral HealthCare. "COP 2 COP officers understand" 'the job' and they are trained to respond to calls from men and women who answer the call of duty daily."

Bryant trial to begin with Jury Selection

by: Jason Springer

Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 07:18:47 PM EDT

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in federal court.

Authorities say he was paid $200,000 over four years by the Gloucester County Board of Social Services, yet worked less than 15 hours total.

He's also accused of holding down a job at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey that had no responsibilities at all.

A judge dismissed charges related to another job at Rutgers University's Camden campus, where he gave just a handful of lectures each year. That charge was dropped because prosecutors never accused him of using his political influence to get the position.

Authorities say the extra jobs boosted Bryant's state pension from $28,000 a year to $81,000.

News Round-up and Open Thread for Thursday, June 14, 2007

by: Sharon GR

Thu Jun 14, 2007 at 07:53:55 AM EDT

• Discussions of the Supreme Court's eminent domain ruling, and its implications for other towns, top the news this morning: The Gloucester County Times, The Star-Ledger, The Philly Inquirer, Asbury Park Press, NY Times, The Record.
• The Supreme Court also issued a ruling yesterday about the protection for reporters once they provide information voluntarily.
• Sen. Nia Gill is still holding up hearings on Stuart Rabner's confirmation for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Gill apparently has questions about his civil law experience and the input into Corzine's decision to nominate him.
• Pet projects of lawmakers pushed up the budget by $189.2 million; for the first time, public hearings will be held on the "Christmas in June" items. You can search through the proposals on the state's legislative web site here.
• At a union convention yesterday, Gov. Corzine pushed for the paid family leave bill to be passed before the end of the month. Senate President Codey wants more discussion with business before calling a vote.
• More UMDNJ troubles- Paul Mehne, the dean overseeing the Camden campus of the embattled school, has been suspended amid the investigations into financial issues and abuses. He had planned to retire later this month.
• The Dept. of Education has proposed new rules for drug testing of students in order to provide uniform conditions for tests; some schools say it's overkill and may push some schools to drop their programs.
• Our Fair State's image is improving, even among our own residents. What's not to love?

Has the Governor Gone Too Far?

by: mikeshapiro

Thu Feb 15, 2007 at 10:00:53 AM EST

For the past decade, New Jersey 's Governors have slowly but steadily politicized the State's system of higher education, from appointing "cronies" to serve on the Board of UMDNJ to "finding" jobs in New Jersey Higher Education for fellow politicians.  Governor Corzine's intervention in the union organizing drive underway at Rutgers  is as troubling.  For the State's chief executive to get so intricately involved in the day-to-day management of the State University is quite unusual in and of itself, but for the Governor to actively promote this unionizing effort and go so far as to join the union's organizing rally is unacceptable.  By exerting political pressure and influence on the President of Rutgers University, Richard McCormick, the Governor has also secured a "neutrality" agreement that prohibits the University from taking a position on the possible unionization and allows employees to promote unionization during work hours.  Has the Governor gone too far? 

News Round-up and Open Thread for Tuesday, January 16, 2007

by: Sharon GR

Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 08:03:54 AM EST

• Assembly Speaker Roberts has introduced a bill in the Assembly (and Sen. Nia Gill intro'ed the one in the Senate) to cease the selling off of municipalities' affordable housing responsibilities. He called the deals, called Regional Contribution Agreements, "veiled racism." Mayors who need the cash praise the program; the New Jersey State League of Municipalities also opposed the bill.
• The federal monitor who is investigating UMDNJ reported yesterday that he still has about 30 open cases out of the 51 he opened, but plans (hopes?) to finish this year. The latest: The UMDNJ emergency medivac helicopters don't seem to have all the proper federal certifications.
• A small plane heading for Essex County Airport in Fairfield crashed into a driveway in Wayne last night. The pilot was killed; no one on the ground was hurt.
• Teen driving rules often aren't followed and aren't enforced.  After the recent accident in Freehold where a teenager was driving and four people were killed, the Star-Ledger found that convictions for violations are rare at best and teenagers simply ignore their licence restrictions.
• Today is the last day for occasional drivers on the Atlantic City Expressway to see a toll discount on their EZ Pass bills. Frequent users (35 or more trips a month) will continue to see their discount but less frequent users will have to pay the full fare as of tomorrow. The South Jersey Transportation Authority plans to use the increased revenue for widening projects and EZ Pass express lanes.
• Everyone's reporting that it's going to be cold today. The pathetic thing is that it's actually news that it's cold in January.  There might even be a few snow flurries tonight!
• A couple of reminders: have you made plans to attend the huge rally tomorrow night in Paramas? Have you pledged here?

Open Thread: What say you, Blue Jersey?

US Attorney launches probe of UMDNJ

by: Jason Springer

Mon Nov 13, 2006 at 07:20:27 PM EST

A monitor's report released today said UMDNJ has improperly paid $5.7 million in referrals to doctors since 2002 in order to attract patients to its struggling cardiac surgery unit in Newark.

The state's medical university took in $36 million in illegal Medicare and Medicaid payments as part of a kickback scheme designed to bolster its troubled cardiac surgery program, and top school officials conspired to cover it all up, according to the school's federal monitor.

The scheme involved 18 cardiologists at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey who were given essentially no-show teaching jobs at salaries of $150,000 or more. In return, they were expected to refer patients to the cardiac surgery program, the monitor alleges in a report sent to the U.S. Attorney and expected to be released tomorrow. The doctors were paid almost $6 million over four years.

News Round-up and Open Thread for Tuesday, November 7th

by: Sharon GR

Tue Nov 07, 2006 at 09:13:35 AM EST

• Three hunting groups are planning to take the state to court to force preparations for the bear hunt to be held on Dec. 4-9. Gov. Corzine has not decided if the bear hunt will go forward and has ordered a revew of the state's Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy by DEP commissioner Lisa Jackson.
• The State Senate is now investigating whether UMDNJ paid cardiologists illegally, or offered them high-paying jobs, to send patients to its cardiac surgery unit which was under threat of closure due to poor performance. Some of the cardiologists had not even passed their boards. The federal monitor investigating the school plans to release his report on the cardiology program and referr it to the U.S. Attorney's office.
• Bergen Community College is planning to open a campus in the Meadowlands, specifically to train workers for the new Xanadu complex being constructed there.
• The East Windsor Regional School District has canceled today due to threatening letters recieved and the district's wariness about security with polling places in the schools. East Windsor and Middletown Township municipal courts, the Milford Board of Education, and The Times of Trenton all recieved the letters, threatening violence at an unspecified elementary school. Raritan Twp. is investigating a "person of interest" in the case.
• The express lanes of Rt. 78 should be opening Friday, weeks ahead of schedule. When do you hear news like that about a transportation project?
• Delaware River Port Autority officials are optimistic that a deadlock over the dredging of the Delaware River could be broken by election day. DRPA Vice Chairman Jeff Nash is "cautiously optimistic" that the political posturing will end and a close to the standoff. PA Gov. Ed Rendell is, of course, up for re-election today.
• You knew I'd get around to some election stuff, and here it is: Mercer County absentee ballots had the voter's party affiliation on the return envelope, sparking fears that handlers could discard ballots with which they disagree. A few complaints have been recieved and the state's ACLU Voting Rights for All project called the markings "completely innappropriate." (That's putting it mildly!) The county does not anticipate that the envelopes will be marked in the future.
• Some voting problems are already being reported in Montclair.
• It's probably going to rain today. (North South) Rain stinks for voter turnout. Grrr.

Midterm Election Eve Newsroundup

by: Jay Lassiter

Mon Nov 06, 2006 at 07:21:19 AM EST

News Round-up and Open Thread for Tuesday, October 17

by: Sharon GR

Tue Oct 17, 2006 at 09:45:28 AM EDT

• The investigation of State Senator Wayne Bryant is expanding, with federal investigators subpoenaing financial records from Department of Children and Families' dealings with Bryant's former employer UMDNJ, and records from the Office of Legislative Services about public agencies' business with Bryant's law firm.
• The Nat'l Republican Senate Committee is pouring more money into Tom Kean JUNIOR's senate run, now to re-run an ad about ethics questions. No comment was made about the irony of JUNIOR redirecting attention with ethics questions.
• Assembly Democrats are hearing updates and ideas from the special committees set up this summer to investigate property tax reform, hoping to meet the deadline they set of one month from now. Meanwhile, state Sen. Bill Gormely has proposed revamping the health insurance program for public employees, which would face strong opposition from the unions.
• Moving forward: Lucile Davy is officially the state education commissioner now, while State Supreme Court Associate Justice James Zazzali has been approved by the State Senate judiciary committee to move to chief justice and Appellate Division Justice Helen Hoens has been approved to move to the high court.
• Mayors are still allowed to collect fees for performing weddings. An ethics violation determination by the Department of Community Affairs has been dropped.
• The Borough Council in Keyport is expected to consider a proposed ordinance that would fine landlords $1000 if they have units rented to illegal immigrants. "This is a racist ordinance with the sole purpose of getting rid of all Latinos in Keyport," said the Rev. Miguel Rivera, president of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy & Christian Leaders. "We are ready to file a lawsuit in federal court should it ever be adopted."
• Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ has settled a class-action suit brought by 40,000 doctors who said they were shortchanged by Our Fair State's largest HMO. Horizon agreed to "continue significant business practice improvements" and will pay the doctors' lawyer fees.
• Atlantic City's Steel Pier Amusement Park closed its doors this past weekend. Trump Entertainment plans to redevelop the pier, but into what is as yet unknown.
• Feel crowded in this morning? About 7:46AM today, the United States population crossed the 300 million mark.
• Today is the LAST DAY to register to vote to be eligible to vote in the election on Nov. 7th. Go here if you need information, and pass it on! You can also go vote now, if you'd like- no reason is needed to vote absentee in Our Fair State.

Open Thread: What's on your mind today, Blue Jersey?

News Round-up, Sunday, September 17, 2006

by: Jason Springer

Sun Sep 17, 2006 at 09:15:49 AM EDT

News Round-Up, Weekend Round Up

by: Jason Springer

Sun Jun 11, 2006 at 09:57:07 AM EDT

There's Some Teeth In That Governor

by: huntsu

Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 12:57:03 PM EDT

I say to that, hooey:

Warren Wallace -- fired last week from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey over serious ethics abuses -- should immediately resign his public offices, both elected and appointed, Gov. Jon Corzine declared yesterday.

"I think it's time for Mr. Wallace to step aside from public life," said Corzine. "I would think he should step aside and I will recommend that he do that."

Now, Walace is not just an administrator but also a pretty powerful Democratic Freeholder in South Jersey who can rattle a few Assembly and Senate cages.  If he wants to make life tough for the Governor, he can.

And right now Corzine needs all the friends he can get in the legislature to pass the budget.  There's only 24 or so days left to pass the thing and losing a couple votes for pissing on a legislator's friend is not usually considered a good move.

That said, the Governor stood up for what was right and not what helped him.  He saw a powerful member of his own party exposed as corrupt, and he called it like he saw it.

It looks like Jon Corzine may be the real deal, coming in to make some changes.  Time will tell, but the early returns are looking good.