PRESS RELEASES

Press Release: WEINBERG CALLS ON CHRISTIE TO JOIN IN DEMANDING U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE RELEASE FOIA RESPONSES
October 26, 2009


For Immediate Release                                                                                                  
October 26, 2009
 
Contact:
Elisabeth Smith, 609-695-7190
 
 
TRENTON— In light of yesterday’s Star-Ledger report that Chris Christie hired one of his chief fundraisers’ children as an assistant U.S. Attorney despite his lack of appropriate experience and over the objections of nearly every assistant U.S. attorney who interviewed him, Senator Loretta Weinberg today called on Christie to join the Corzine/Weinberg campaign in asking for the U.S. Attorney’s Office to immediately release documents requested months ago under the Freedom of Information Act.
 
“Every day seems to bring a new revelation about Christie’s U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Weinberg.  “Last week it was a report in the New York Times that First Assistant U. S. Attorney Michele Brown may have been assisting the Christie campaign and now the Star-Ledger says Christie hired the son of his friend and mentor days before he resigned from the office, despite the fact that this individual does not appear to have had the appropriate experience for the position.  New Jersey residents deserve to know what else was going on in that office before they make their decision next week on who to put in charge of running this state.  As someone who continuously talks about transparency and ethics, Christie should join us in demanding that these documents be released immediately.”
 
Sunday’s Star Ledger reported that Christie altered the interview process and hired Sam Stern days before resigning his position as U.S. Attorney.  Sam Stern is the son of Herb Stern, who is one of the main contributors to the Christie campaign.  Christie has previously described Stern as a close friend and mentor and, while still U.S. Attorney, Christie awarded Stern’s law firm a $10 million no-bid contract.  Christie also previously spared one of Stern’s clients, Stryker Corp., from criminal prosecution and millions of dollars in fines after the company defrauded the taxpayers and the Medicare system.  Stern and his partners subsequently helped raise more than $370,000 for Christie’s campaign.
 
This story follows on the heels of a report by the Associated Press about Christie’s abuse of taxpayer funds on trips around the world and limousine rentals for drives to Atlantic City and a New York Times report that Brown may have been assisting the Christie campaign while working in the non-partisan U.S. Attorney’s Office.
 
The information, requested from as far back as March, touches on everything from Christie’s acknowledged conversations with Bush strategist Karl Rove that resulted in staff being hired for his campaign, to correspondence between Christie’s office and the various lawyers that received multi-million dollar, no bid contracts from Christie.  The campaign had also previously requested correspondence between Christie and former Acting United States Attorney Ralph Marra and former second Assistant United States Attorney Michele Brown.
 
 
 
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Following, please find unfulfilled FOIA requests and their current status:

March 28, 2009
 
Emails, phone logs, calendar appointments or any other records of communications between U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie and Karl Rove or anyone at the White House or Republican National Committee.  (Please include emails between Christie and RNC email accounts used by Rove and other White House staff). (Appeal pending)

All records of public events attended by U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie from Jan 2002 through December 2008.  Please include schedules, calendars, briefing papers, emails, invitations, event programs, agendas, etc." (Received extremely redacted schedules)
Any records regarding an attempt by Christopher Christie, as U.S. Attorney, to obtain a recusal. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Manual, chapter 3-2.170, “A United States Attorney who becomes aware of circumstances that might necessitate a recusal of himself/herself or of the entire office, should promptly notify GCO, EOUSA, at (202) 514-4024 to discuss whether a recusal is required. If recusal is appropriate, the USAO will submit a written recusal request memorandum to GCO. GCO will then coordinate the recusal action, obtain necessary approvals for the recusal, and assist the office in arranging for a transfer of responsibility to another office, including any designations of attorneys as a Special Attorney or Special Assistant to the Attorney General (see USAM 3-2.300 <http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/eousa/foia_reading_room/usam/title3/2musa.htm#3-2.300> ) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Sec. 515. See USAP 3-2.170.001 (M).”  (Request denied)

April 6, 2009

All written communications, emails, phone logs, calendar appointments or any other records of communications between United States Attorney David N. Kelley and the office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey. (Awaiting response)

All written communications, emails, phone logs, calendar appointments or any other records of communications between United States Attorney Christopher J. Christie and the office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.  (Awaiting response)

April 23, 2009

Former United States Attorney Christopher J. Christie and/or the office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey entered into at least seven deferred prosecution agreements or non-prosecution agreements between 2002 and 2009.  These agreements involved the selection of federally appointed independent monitors. Please provide all invoices, bills and supporting documentation and itemization (for invoices and bills) that any such monitors submitted to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the U.S. Department of Justice, or the entities under monitoring. This request includes any invoices, bills, supporting documentation, and itemization submitted by independent monitors overseeing deferred prosecution or non-prosecution agreements involving, but not limited to, the following entities: Biomet Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, DePuy Orthopaedics Inc., Smith & Nephew Inc., Stryker Orthopedics (division of Howmedica Osteonics Corp), University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Zimmer Inc.  (No records provided, Appeal denied)

August 3, 2009

Any documents, briefs, memos or communications (including written communications, emails, phone logs, calendar appointments or any other records) that were either authored by or include the name or signature of former United States Attorney Christopher J. Christie and are related in any way to the criminal case of United States of America v. Salkind (Case 2:08 –cr00383-DMC).  (No records provided, Appeal denied)

July 31, 2009

Any written communications, emails, phone logs, calendar appointments or any other records of communications since December 1, 2008 between Christopher J. Christie and any of the following: Acting United States Attorney Ralph Marra, the office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, or any individuals who work for the office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey.  (Awaiting response)



July 31, 2009

Any written communications, emails, phone logs, calendar appointments or any other records of communications between former United States Attorney Christopher J. Christie or his office and any of the following:  Herbert J. Stern, John P. Inglesino, or any attorney or employee from the law firm of Stern & Kilcullen of Roseland, New Jersey (Mr. Stern and Mr. Inglesino are partners at the firm of Stern & Kilcullen).  (Awaiting response)


August 10, 2009
 
All schedules and calendars for former United States Attorney Christopher Christie from January 2002 through December 2008.  (Received same extremely redacted schedules provided in response to 3/28 request for public schedules.)

All phone logs for former United States Attorney Christopher Christie from January 2002 through December 2008. (Awaiting response)

August 19, 2009
 
A complete history of all promotions and salaries since FY 2000 by Michele Brown, who is currently the First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey. (No records provided, Appeal pending)

Any written communications, emails, or any other records of communications since December 2001 between former U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie and Michele Brown that address or refer to the personal finances of either party, including, but not limited to, any loan or mortgage provided by Mr. Christie to Ms. Brown. (No records provided, Appeal pending)