Favoritism charges dog Christie campaign for NJ Governor

Christopher Christie was favored by a top Justice Department aide who accelerated charges against New Jersey politicians to make sure Christie got the political benefit for his "clean up New Jersey" campaign theme, the New York Times suggests in a report today based on interviews with unidentified federal employees. The accommodation was pressed by his friend and top aide Michele Brown whom Christie had favored with a personal loan of $46,000.

Brown also intervened to take charge of the Freedom of Information Act requests made by Christie's opponent - Governor Jon Corzine. The acting U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra ordered Brown to give up control of the file before she resigned in the wake of disclosure of the loan by Christie.

According to the Times account Brown

took a job at a law firm with close ties to Mr. Christie — a firm that represented one of five companies identified as targets in his office’s investigation of kickbacks among makers of artificial hips and knees. Ms. Brown had led the case and, with Mr. Christie, negotiated a settlement in which the company paid a fine and avoided criminal charges.

There is no conflict of interest presented by such employment but like the loan and the other actions it suggests that friendship and partisanship are recurrent themes in Christie's dealings. A candidate running as Mr. Clean jeopardizes his chances with grandstanding and favoritism.

The United States Attorney's position in New Jersey has long been a high profile platform. In contrast the state Attorney General, an appointed officer, does not have the sweeping power or public platform that elected positions like that which brought Elliott Spitzer to the Governor's Mansion in Albany and may do the same for Andrew Cuomo.

The official history of the U.S. Attorney's Office shows that unlike Christie, who never made a secret of his gubernatorial vision, prior occupants of the office have gained prominence in the judiciary. Samuel A. Alito, Jr. and Michael Chertoff served on the U.S. Court Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit. Alito rose to the U.S. Supreme Court and Chertoff became Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Images: Campaign poster, Christie with Michele Brown