Ex-U.S. Attorney is learning that running for governor is a lot harder than being the U.S. Attorney during the Bush years– even when one of your real bosses is Karl Rove.
By The Star-Ledger Editorial Board
NEWARK, N.J. –A high horse is a difficult thing to ride, as Chris Christie is finding out. After building his image as a white knight rescuing New Jersey from the dragon of corruption, Christie is showing some gaps in his armor.
The Republican candidate for governor is facing questions about a loan of $46,000 he made to an assistant when he was U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, and failed to report on his income tax and financial disclosure forms. He says it was a mistake and is filing amended reports. If there’s no more to this story, it may blow over. Gov. Jon Corzine can’t make much of it without reviving questions about the Democrat’s own financial entanglement with former state labor leader Carla Katz.
Of more concern is the disclosure that, while New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor, Christie spoke with Karl Rove, political guru to George W. Bush.
Christie says they never discussed legal cases; Rove says they talked about Christie’s interest in running for governor. That raises questions about whether Christie took steps toward a campaign while still U.S. Attorney, in possible violation of the Hatch Act.
OTHER STORIES OF INTEREST
- N.C. State Lawmaker Shoots Intruder (AP)
- Art Appraiser Safe From Fraud Claims (Courthouse News Service)
- Outgoing U.S. Atty. Named South Dakota Atty. Gen (Main Justice)
- Another Set Back for Federal Prosecutors (Wall Street Journal Law Blog)
- Ex-Congressman Duke Cunningham Pushed for Assassinations (Spy Talk)
