Free Republic

A tough-talking former federal prosecutor will take on a disliked governor in New Jersey, a long-anticipated matchup that could test the Democratic incumbent's reaction to the recession and whether the wave of Obama's popularity can wash him to victory. After gliding to victory in their respective party primaries Tuesday, Republican Christopher J. Christie and Gov. Jon S. Corzine are set to do battle in the only governor's race in the country to feature an incumbent Democrat. Christie, 46, was enthusiastically backed by New Jersey's Republican establishment, receiving virtually every county GOP endorsement. Early polls show him maintaining a narrow lead...

Christie makes it official: He wants Gov. Corzine’s job By Cynthia Burton INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Former U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie is running for New Jersey governor in the Republican primary, he told supporters in a widely circulated e-mail this morning. As U.S. Attorney between 2002 and his resignation last month, Christie, 46, secured guilty pleas or convictions from more than 130 elected and appointed officials. Establishment Republicans have long hoped the Mendham, Morris County, resident would be their 2009 gubernatorial candidate, bringing star power to the party, which has not won a statewide election since former Gov. Christie Whitman's...

Two former Fort Monmouth workers, and the daughter of one of them, are accused of scheming to have government contractors provide no-show jobs for the daughter. Accused in an indictment made public today are 55-year-old Michael Rzeplinski, a former programs director for the General Services Administration and former Army supervisory engineer; 61-year-old Connie Davidson, a former G-S-A employee who lives with Rzeplinski in Red Bank, and her 33-year-old Kirsten Davidson of Red Bank. All three are charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States. Rzeplinski also faces two counts of mail fraud and three counts of tax evasion. Rzeplinski and...

It's been a whirlwind two weeks as the U-S Attorney's Office collects documents related to state Senator Wayne Bryant, and his influence over the New Jersey budget. Subpoenas are flying. Legislators are being questioned. Republicans are crying foul. And Democrats are calling for cooler heads. Legislative leaders in both political parties and staff offices, the Treasury Department and the Office of Legislative Services have received subpoenas. The inquiry is apparently about how state money is directed and spent. It stems from an allegation by a federal monitor overseeing the finances of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey....

New Jersey legislative officials were hit with a volley of federal subpoenas yesterday, in a rapidly expanding corruption investigation into the Statehouse by U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie. The subpoenas were served on both the Democratic and Republican leadership in the Senate and the Assembly -- seeking information on how millions in public funds were handed out over the last three years. (snip) Lawmakers and other Statehouse veterans could not recall a federal probe ever going as deeply into the state's budget process. Among those who received subpoenas were Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex); Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon); Senate...

For nearly an hour-and-a-half yesterday, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the non-partisan research arm of New Jersey Legislature squared off in federal court over records federal prosecutors reportedly want as part of a widening probe into political corruption. The Office of Legislative Services (OLS), also the legal arm of the legislature, claims the documents are confidential and has refused to release them. Newark attorney Edward Dauber, hired to represent the Legislature to contest the federal subpoena offered no comment upon exiting Judge Mary Cooper's court room. Dauber is a former assistant U.S. Attorney and has served as the executive assistant...

Although an official with Chris Christie's office will neither confirm nor deny it, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the non-partisan research arm of New Jersey Legislature are set to square off in federal court today over records federal prosecutors reportedly want as part of a widening probe into political corruption. The Office of Legislative Services (OLS), also the legal arm of the legislature, claims the documents are confidential and has refused to release them. The investigation is said to be focusing on more than $270 million in last-minute State Budget add-ons, commonly known as "pork," or "Christmas tree items." The...

The U-S Attorney's Office and the New Jersey Legislature are set to square off in federal court tomorrow over records federal prosecutors want as part of a far-reaching political corruption investigation. The Legislature's legal arm considers the documents confidential and has refused to release them. The Star-Ledger of Newark reports that U-S Attorney Christopher Christie has subpoenaed internal memos, e-mails and other documents that the Legislature generates while drafting the annual state budget. The documents are being sought as part of an investigation into whether any elected officials improperly directed money to certain pet organizations. The current 30-point-eight (b) billion...

U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie and state lawmakers are locked in a secret legal battle over his attempts to launch a wide-ranging investigation of the New Jersey Legislature. (snip) The Legislature's awarding of millions in state grants with little oversight has been drawing increasing attention. This type of spending -- known in New Jersey as "Christmas tree items" -- more than doubled in the past five years, to nearly $350 million. (snip) The subpoena grew out of a criminal probe of Sen. Wayne Bryant (D-Camden), one of the Legislature's most influential members and former chairman of the powerful Senate budget committee....

<p>WASHINGTON -- New Jersey's U.S. attorney told Congress yesterday that violent street gangs represent a growing public threat and must be attacked with the same force and methods used against traditional organized crime families.</p> <p>Christopher Christie's appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee came as his office in Newark announced charges against an East Orange man they said helped provide firearms to gang members in Newark and other parts of Essex County.</p>