PRESS RELEASES

Press Release: Highlighting Christie's Failure to Honor Transparency Vow, Corzine Campaign Releases "FOIA Clock"
August 11, 2009

For Immediate Release:

August 11, 2009

Contact:
Elisabeth Smith, 609-695-1790

 

HIGHLIGHTING CHRISTIE’S FAILURE TO HONOR TRANSPARENCY VOW,

CORZINE CAMPAIGN RELEASES “FOIA CLOCK”

 

TRENTON—After months of stonewalling from the U.S. Attorney’s office on releasing public records from Conservative Right Wing Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie’s tenure there, the Corzine campaign today released a “FOIA Clock” to count the days since the campaign’s requests for information were first made. While Christie has vowed to bring transparency to government, he has stood by silently as the Corzine campaign’s request for basic information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has gone ignored.

“Christie has said he will bring transparency to government, yet has failed to live up to this promise on the campaign trail,” said Lieutenant Governor candidate, Senator Loretta Weinberg. “The campaign’s FOIA Clock will hold Christie accountable for his rhetoric until the day he decides to come clean about his tenure at the U.S. Attorney’s office.”

For months, the Corzine campaign has been seeking basic government information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), but more than 20 requests dating back to March remain unfulfilled. As a result, records of Christie’s budgets, travel at taxpayer expense and no-bid contracts he awarded remain secret.

Christie has made his tenure as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey the centerpiece of his campaign.  During a press conference in February, he said, “This race is about me…it’s about the record I’ve had for seven years as the U.S. Attorney. And so, I am willing to run on my record if the Governor is willing to run on his.” 

“If Christie wants to run on his record, then it’s only fair for the public to know the details of his time at the U.S. Attorney’s office,” said Weinberg.

The FOIA clock can be viewed below: