Christie Facing Probe On Possible Misuse of Hurricane Sandy Funds

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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie gestures as he answers a question during a news conference Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, at the Statehouse in Trenton.  (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie gestures as he answers a question during a news conference Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, at the Statehouse in Trenton.
(AP Photo/Mel Evans)

It isn’t for over for the embattled New Jersey Governor.  Federal officials are now investigating whether he misused Hurricane Sandy relief funds.

It appears Christie used $4.7 million of the federal funds allotted to tourism marketing to produce advertisements. The problem? Those ads featured Christie and his family—and this during an election year—and cost $2.2 million more than the next lowest bidder, whose ads would not have included the Christie family. New Jersey Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone asked the feds to review, and he tells CNN the audit will take several months.

“This was money that could have directly been used for Sandy recovery,” Pallone says. “And, as you know, many of my constituents still haven’t gotten the money that is owed them to rebuild their homes or raise their homes or to help.” Meanwhile, the George Washington Bridge traffic scandal continues: Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich initially said he didn’t recall Christie even asking for an endorsement before the lane closure; but now he tells theNew York Times he does remember a staffer from Christie’s re-election campaign making the request; he says he was noncommittal in his response.

The Wall Street Journal (whose source says the staffer was regional political director Matt Mowers) adds that another Democratic mayor, Jersey City’s Steve Fulop, claims he was also “punished” for refusing to endorse Christie. Fulop says he saw his meetings with several state commissioners suddenly canceled, and has had a hard time scheduling meetings with them since.

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Bill Formby
10 years ago

It is not only the Democrats pushing these things. He is not the darling of all Republicans. Rand Paul and Marco Rubio are all giggly about all of this. Christie’s NJ tactics just do not play well on the national stage. Of course the far right Repubs will be sorry after the next national election because they will not capture the White House.

Jess
10 years ago

next up, they need to look into the hinkyness that is his wife’s charitable deal. She got 32 million and hasn’t given any out to the “charity” that is not named.

Marsha Woerner
10 years ago

I like the Rachel Maddow theory on the whole bridge lane closure thing, i.e. that it had nothing to do with the Mayor of Fort Lee, per se, but all of the Democrats that had to do with the judges and their reappointment. I haven’t seen in theory anywhere else, but I kind of like it! And the whole blowup of the Mayor’s refusal to support Christie is a great way to continue getting attention elsewhere. To be honest, I’m kind of happy that the image of Christie being a “moderate” is going the way of the carrier pigeon, because I don’t think that it was ever a representative image. He was a jerk of war the hurricane; he may very well be a jerk with the restorative monies; he’s a jerk now.

Rachael
10 years ago

His presidential aspirations are going down the drain. There’s blood in the water now and the sharks are circling.

10 years ago

Imagine, a powerful politician using his position to divert public funds for his personal gain! Even worse, using that same position to intimidate or punish others.

I’m sure this is the first time this has happened with any politician in any political party. Certainly no others have ever been caught at it?

Where is our sarcasm font?

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