Is Obama DOJ Targeting Chris Christie?
- Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:03pm by
Meredith Jessup
- Print »
- Email »
Washington (AP) – New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is raising his national political profile as a government cost-cutter, engaged in a pattern of abuse when he was U.S. attorney by billing taxpayers to stay at luxury hotels, the Justice Department’s inspector general said in a report Monday.
The inspector general found that the Republican governor, who recently killed the construction of a new rail line to New York under the Hudson River, did not comply with federal travel regulations or provide acceptable justification for lodging costs that exceeded the government rate.
Christie was one of five U.S. attorneys singled out for criticism in the inspector general’s review of U.S. attorney travel that exceeded the government lodging rate. Christie was the chief federal prosecutor for New Jersey from 2002 until Dec. 1, 2008, when he resigned to run for governor. He became governor last January.
While the amount of money involved in the review of Christie’s travel vouchers is small, $2,176, the IG‘s report comes at a time when Christie’s political star is rising as he focuses on reducing the cost of government.
The inspector general’s report concluded that there were other examples of questionable travel by several other U.S. attorneys, but that those instances “were not part of a pattern of abuse like those described” in the section of the report on the five U.S. attorneys.
The report did not name the five U.S. attorneys and referred to Christie only as “U.S. Attorney C.” But the details in the report about U.S. Attorney C were identical to travel data on Christie from Justice Department records that were publicly released last year under the Freedom of Information Act during Christie’s race for governor.
Fifteen of the 23 travel vouchers for lodging that Christie submitted from 2007 to 2009 exceeded the government rate for lodging, the report stated.
The U.S. attorney “provided insufficient, inaccurate or no justification” for 14 of the 15 trips, the report added.
Christie’s press secretary, Michael Drewniak, said Monday that “the governor thoroughly addressed this issue during the campaign, and I would refer you to his remarks then.”
During the campaign, Christie said he stayed in more expensive hotels only when cheaper ones weren’t available. “We always went for government rates first,” he said. “I don’t think there were a lot of stays in five-star hotels over seven years.”
The inspector general only examined travel back through 2007.
Twelve of the 14 trips in which Christie’s hotel cost exceeded government rates all related to one particular case which the report did not identify, but Christie’s office confirmed Monday that the case involved five medical-device manufacturers. Those companies avoided criminal prosecution over financial inducements paid to surgeons to use the companies’ products.
During that case, Christie “addressed the companies, their boards and senior management numerous times on their obligations and compliance with the deferred prosecution agreements,” Drewniak said in an e-mail.
In one instance related to the case, the inspector general wrote, the U.S. attorney traveled to Boston for meetings with representatives of a defendant company at the Nine Zero Hotel at a cost of $449 per night — more than double the government rate of $220 per night in Boston.
In a trip not related to that case, the U.S. attorney justified a $475-per-night stay at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C., by saying that there was an early morning speech at the hotel. If lodging at the government rate of $233 was available within a reasonable distance, “we do not believe this was a suitable justification,” the report added.
In the report, by Inspector General Glenn Fine, a footnote on transportation costs said the U.S. attorney took a prearranged car service on a four-mile trip to and from the Boston airport costing $236 round trip.
“In another example of excessive transportation costs, his car service from a London airport to his hotel in central London cost $562 round trip,” the report added.
Christie is the first Republican elected New Jersey governor in a dozen years. He was a sought-after guest on the GOP campaign trail during the midterm elections.
Christie has left the door open for a 2016 presidential run. On Sunday, he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he was “going to need a job” after 2013. He added: “So maybe it will be that. Who knows?”
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 697 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 527 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 353 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 353 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 346 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 346 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 353 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 265 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 346 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (98)
wingedwolf
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 12:11amThe injustice department investigates Christie, but declines to prosecute the black pampers I mean panthers. I’d say that pretty much sums it up. I can’t believe America has a president who hates America. And I agree with Rose, of Quinn and Rose, that everyone who voted for the malefactor in chief should send letters of apology to the rest of us. There is no excuse for not recognizing this piece of excrement for what he is long before the election happened. People who voted for this little union bully thug should be executed for treason. Luckily, I don’t have any friends who voted for this. I would disown them.
Report Post »egosumverum
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 12:08amBuck Ofama and the DOJ – Department of Jihad.
Report Post »Sandy
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 12:08amSugar Daddy Soros at work. He sent his paid minions after Christie, because he is gaining popularity. Soros regime getting weaker because we the people out number them!
Report Post »red penny
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 12:05amThe morons at DOJ are a bunch of hypocrites to put it mildly.This is political gutter sniping and not important in the overall scheme of things considering the things that DOJ has refused to look into.We need to carry out the trash at DOJ as soon as possible.
Report Post »NoMarxist
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 12:03amAnyone want to bet the teacher’s union leaders, profiled in the Teacher’s Gone Wild video, wasted at least double the amount of money for one party than Christie supposedly overcharged taxpayers the entire time he was US Attorney General?? Did the report happen to mention how much cash SEIU pumped into Democrat candidates to keep them in power for the 2010 elections, and oh by the way, was that taxpayer money funneled into the unions by the Obama adminstration or was it just an obscene misuse of union members dues? Maybe now that Republicans sent the wicked witch packing, we can get some real oversight!
Report Post »Dakota
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:59pmSo let me understand this correctly; Obama spends some 2 billion dollars on a 10 day bogus trip….Pelosi struts around in her own 757…and we are trying to nail some Patriot for $2100 bucks? Can’t wait to undress these skirts in the next election. 2012 can’t come fast enough. Stay vigilant
Report Post »krenshau
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:59pmIf $2k dollars is all he wasted, he set a new record. A record LOW. I wish all government workers wasted as little as he did.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:56pmThe Inspector General?
Attorney C??
This sounds like a Pink Panther flick.
$2,176 dollars??
Oh, please!
Hmmmm,
Report Post »>What about all the tax dodgers in the current Administration?
mamawalker
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:16amoh just ask Tea ****** Patriot, I’m sure he has the perfect answer to that question…lol
Report Post »joseph Fawcett
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:51pmPicking at straws, I bet if we looked into Obama when he was senator in IL we would find a lot more abuses of spending than this. This is not bad compared to others.
http://www.josephfawcettart.com western art
Report Post »FSUDAVE
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:50pmAt least Obama is now showing what he thinks the DOJ is for, it is to fight Arizona immigration laws, a governor that is trying to balance the state’s budget, keep oil drilling out of the Gulf, etc.. In other words go after things that will actually benefit the country.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:38pmAnyone that is honest, forthright and doesn;t have a yellow streak down his back is going to be their target. Governor Cristie is one of the most honorable politicians serving right now. As his popularity grows and possible Presidential run – the left loons just get more and more desperate. Forget the fact that millions of people have no money to put food on the table or a roof over their head – we gotta go after decent and great Americans. I have come to totally detest these bastards.
Report Post »HouseNegro
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:38pmIt‘s not because he’s destroying the Dem machine in NJ. It has everything to do with him being fat, and a bad example for the youth of NJ. Michell my Belle has sicked DOJ on him for being fat. Their gonna make him eat a carrot filled Happy Mael with no Toy! Oh the pain…………….
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 2:05amDopey Smokey is unhealthily skinny. He is a nicotine anorexic. Show us your medical record, traitor. You are physically, mentally, culturally and ethically challenged, and although some of it is not your fault, you are not fit to be POTUS.
Report Post »Sunnyr
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:32pmThis corrupt Department of Justice, headed by the CORRUPT Eric Holder is a freakin’ JOKE. They will target any conservative but overlook blatant cases of corruption in the voting place and the illegal firing of a Whistle Blower by Comrade Obozo. I am counting the days until these FRAUDS are out on their worthless butts! One and done in 2012!
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:28pmIt‘s too bad that the DOJ didn’t do it’s job in prosecuting those black panthers who stood outside one of the polling booths with a night stick instead of targeting possible candidates for President in 2016.
Report Post »Flannie
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:27pmThe vigor with which they are going to persecute Christie is in direct proportion to the amount of fear he inspires in them.
This is a very old issue that was discussed and explained long ago.
Report Post »HimmlersMasterPlan
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:22pmI assume like me you don’t capitalize out of disrespect, right? This is just getting amusing watching them squirm as they know their plan is falling apart. Sic Semper Tryannis
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:19pmYes, I think the DOJ is targeting him. This administration must destroy any potentially viable opponent. Now, how much is Obama’s trip costing us & what is he really doing?
Report Post »JohnEightOne2Ten
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:17pmMore of the Libs and Dumocrats trying to pick fly poop out of a can of black pepper. When they have nothing real, they go for the ridiculous. I mean, 2 grand, what is that in the scheme of things. Who cares.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:16pmobama has a lot of room to talk when we know this latest Grand Poobah vacation of his to indonesia just cost us a frickin BILLION.
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:58pm“BURNTHILLS”…nope…you are WRONG…it cost us (((((2))))) Billion…but why keep count?!?
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 5:58amYou know what they say “A billion here, a billion there, what does it matter?”
Yeah, right.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:14pmyou bet that vile obama and his soros backed DOJ will do everything they can to smear AMERICAN Governor Christie and all other Republicans. we have to stand and fight back against obama and his entire vile agenda. damn obama and his vile pit of soros vomit to Hell.
Report Post »Dstarr55
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:14pmPolitics of destruction is the only tune in the liberal song book – they play it over and over – just ask Sarah Palin.
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:13pmThis administration would not stoop to political shenanegans. LOL
Report Post »cruisemates
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 7:26amPerfect timing – right when Obama is spending $200 MILLION to travel to India.
Nit-picking hypocrits.
Report Post »jcons114
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:13pmgreat!! they are accusing a guy who is cutting spending of spending too much….what baloney!
Report Post »Deda1
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 12:24amHe is a threat to their power and they Demos are a threat to the American citizens.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 5:50amI wonder if their definition of “luxury” is based on the same definition as “rich”. If they are looking to criticize extravagance, they need only to look to the WH, cancel a dinner or two, or a pop concert, and I’m sure it will help balance the budget. They are grasping at straws and the DOJ is what needs to be investigated. It is a travisty of justice.
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:12pmthe opening volleys of political desperation.
Report Post »Highland
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 7:34amObama strikes out at those he fears.
Report Post »paleoconservatarian
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:11pmDarrell Issa cannot come fast enough.
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:31pmSo they just reported all the news that is news that they cannot confirm is news. LOL
Report Post »neverending
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:34pmOh please!
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:52pmIf this discrepancies had been discovered for a Democratic or Progressive governor, they would have been overlooked and dropped into a very deep hole to be forgotten forever. Any Republican or tea party members mentioning them about a Democrat would be investigated by the DOJ for all manner of hate crimes, civil right abuses, and/or interferance with political processes in any and all manners they could make up the evidence for.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm
Report Post »CatB
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:55pmThe DOJ that ignored and excused the New Black Panther voter intimidation? Oh yea they are “fair” alright!
Report Post »tea ****** patriot
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 1:48amDon’t they know that federal laws can only be used to prosecute democrats.
All republicans are exempt.
Post-Progressive American
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 3:55amGovernment travel regs have a lot of loopholes, exemptions and exclusions, each of which requires justification and approval. As long as the justifications provided were not themselves fraudulent, which does not appear to be the case, the responsible party is the Approving Official…the person who initially signed off on the justification and the one who signed off on the claim…after all, the AO’s primary function is to ensure everything is accurate, correct and appropriate.
As a million-miler, I can tell you that the only thing harder to do than justifying additional expenses is to try and do the right thing and save money on travel…doing so cuts into the contracted travel office’s commission and is heavily frowned upon. I have some horror stories that would shock most tax payers…
Report Post »Fletch
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 7:21amwhat ever happened to the IG who was investigating the Mayor of Oakland, CA ?
Report Post »Independent Tess
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 7:25amI am sure they will now target Christie. He stands against them and they will do anything to crush opposition.
Report Post »Demonization is the tactic of choice so we can expect to hear more.
And yet they refuse to even look at so many other groups and people ( New Black Panther voter intimidation, for instance).
I stand with Christie. We should let DOJ know.
HKS
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:07amThis Justice Department is being used as a commie tool. What we need is a president to run our country and not a George Soros puppet.
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:47amThe greatest danger to the Republic is the use of government force, wielded by the bureaucracy, to punish political dissent. “21st Century Common Sense” describes the use of the bureaucracy, especially the IRS, to attack and vilify political opponents.
Both FDR and Nixon were notorious for using the bureaucracy to harass and prosecute their political opponents. The bibliography of “21st Century Common Sense” contains links to website with more proof of both FDR and Nixon’s abuse of power.
Why do you think that here has been so little dissent on the “Global Warming Scam?” That fact, alone, illustrates the danger of the use of the bureaucracy to control political dissent.
There should be a permanent independent prosecutor to investigate bureaucratic persecution of political enemies to control political dissent and punish office holders who direct this abuse of power.
http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »912always
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 6:30pmSo why aren’t they investigating Barrack & Michelle. Talk about over spending on travel and the latest to Indonesia, billed as a chance to increase jobs through cooperation, give me a break. Do we have a list of the names of the business people who are on that trip with him. I would venture to guess they are moveon.org types.
Don’t forget the dog.
Report Post »