Former N.J. ethics officials assail Christie’s acceptance of free Cowboys’ tickets, airfare
Source: The (Bergen) Record
January 7, 2015, 10:58 PM Last updated: Wednesday, January 7, 2015, 11:05 PM
By MELISSA HAYES and JOHN REITMEYER
staff writer | The Record
Governor Christie should not have accepted tickets and airfare to a Dallas Cowboys playoff game from the teams owner, even if he considers him a personal friend, former members of the State Ethics Commission said Wednesday.
I think this is too big to be an honest mistake, said William Schluter, a former Republican state senator who served on the commission.
At a very minimum there is a significant appearance issue here, said Paula Franzese, a Seton Hall law professor who served as special ethics counsel to Gov. Richard J. Codey and was also a member of the Ethics Commission.
Christie has faced mounting criticism since he was seen on national television hugging Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in a luxury box at the football game in Dallas on Sunday afternoon.
Read more: http://www.northjersey.com/news/former-n-j-ethics-officials-assail-christie-s-acceptance-of-free-cowboys-tickets-airfare-1.1187555
Interesting interpretation by some former members of the State Ethics Commission, who do NOT have to deal directly with the bully of Trenton. They include a republican who served on the Commission.
I wonder if Christie is still planning on going to Green Bay this weekend, and if so how he'll get there and where he'll sit.
Another interesting thing in the article: "Christie spokesman Kevin Roberts said the governor and Jones became friends in mid-2013", AFTER the Port Authority contract was awarded to Jones' company! Not good.
Reter
(2,188 posts)If the taxpayers paid for it, I would be outraged. Jerry Jones paid for it. He's a billionaire and won't miss it. Am I missing something?
jehop61
(1,735 posts)is what will Jerry Jones get from the Gov. for providing these goodies. He already has profited via a contract authorized by Christie. Looks, walks, and talks like a duck
George II
(67,782 posts)...a governor has to report non-monetary gifts of $200 or more. He's been to at least two or three football games with Jones in NJ and Philadelphia and hasn't reported them yet (one would think a football ticket in a luxury box is more than $200)
Also, a governor can only accept gifts from a "personal friend", not a business man.
Finally, a couple of years ago Jones' company was awarded a multi-million dollar contract to run restaurants for the Port Authority, at Christie's recommendation. THEN he and Jones became "personal friends" and became eligible to receive gifts.
Elmer S. E. Dump
(5,751 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)....and Christie brought his wife and four children to Dallas with him.
Elmer S. E. Dump
(5,751 posts)Laxman
(2,419 posts)but under what circumstances do you find it acceptable for a sitting public official to accept a gift-let alone a gift with a value of in excess of $20,000? It is NEVER acceptable for a public official to accept gifts. This is a guy who warned about local officials even accepting a sandwich from a local deli owner when he was U.S. Attorney. Now look at him. Have we become so desensitized and accepting of a privileged class that we can no longer discern that this is just wrong on its face?
Now, lets add to the equation that Jerry Jones firm just received a contract with the Port Authority valued at over $850 million that the Christie administration pushed for. Does it look unethical to you yet?
The relationships of the rich and powerful with elected officials extends beyond just large campaign donations. Christie got there because of his position, not some fabled friendship with Jerry Jones. That is the appearance of impropriety. That is unethical.
George II
(67,782 posts)....the contract was awarded on March 19, 2013.
Bizarre coincidence? I seriously doubt it.
safeinOhio
(32,686 posts)free stuff.
Elmer S. E. Dump
(5,751 posts)They always say that about Democrats, eg: The "Obama Phone". Just rich!
Elmer S. E. Dump
(5,751 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)Corps do too. It seats about 50 people and they invite friends or sometimes give the seats to a charity group for a game.
Its not like any republican gave Christie 'bribe money' or a cut into any business or real estate investment tips for closing a bridge... or did they?
Republicans never liked Christie, remember Romney? he constantly avoided pictures with Christie and never even had him to the family mansions once.
bpj62
(999 posts)Our former Governor was just sentenced to 2 years in club fed for an clear quid pro quo issue. Governor Christie clearly feels that he can do what he wants and that no one will challenge him. I do not understand why the people of the State of New Jersey have foisted this guy upon the nation. he is a bully and someone has to take him down.
Laxman
(2,419 posts)Christie Crime Digest
Volume I
Volume II
This has nothing to do with what team he roots for, who he hugged or how he attempted to jump up and down. There are millions of Cowboy fans. They weren't all sitting in the owner's box. They weren't all flown down on the owner's jet. They didn't all get access to the field to meet the team. Only one did. Chris Christie. This is about a public official accepting a gift with a value in the tens of thousands of dollars (do the math and you'll see it adds up quickly) from a man who did business with an agency that Christie has influence over-the Port Authority of NY & NJ. Christie accepted a gift that was only available to him via his elected position and certainly has the appearance of a quid pro quo or even an attempt to gain greater influence over him in the future. These aren't best buddies. These aren't old friends. This is an elected official taking a very expensive gift from a business man looking to gain influence. The former governor of Virginia just went to federal prison the other day for arguably less.
olegramps
(8,200 posts)LiberalLovinLug
(14,174 posts)Seems like every Republican engaging in misbehavior always escapes the day of reckoning. A woman died as a result of that petty political retribution. At the time I thought that would be the end of the Governor. All they do is wait it out until something else hits the headlines. This will be the same.
Laxman
(2,419 posts)of what has been happening. The U.S. Attorney's investigation continues. This is not an easy case. Nobody's talking, the relationships are complex and the subject matter is broad and diverse. Today is the one year aniversary of the "time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee" e-mail being unearthed by the Record :
By Friday, New Jerseys top federal prosecutor will have been investigating the lane closures for a year. The probe has expanded to look at the Port Authoritys former chairman and close Christie adviser David Samson and allegations that the Christie administration withheld Sandy aid from Hoboken because that citys mayor did not fast-track a real estate development represented by Samsons law firm.
People familiar with some of the details of the case said they expect it to wrap up early this year, adding that they believed there would be an announcement by U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman regardless of the outcome because of the high-profile nature of the investigation. If there are charges, that could present awkward timing for Christie, who plans to announce whether hell run for president early this year.
The Manhattan District Attorneys Office is also conducting a criminal investigation into the diversion of $1.8 billion in Port Authority money at the urging of the Christie administration to pay for non-agency roads owned by New Jersey. In recent months, the office has been conducting interviews and reviewing internal Port Authority documents.
The Port Authority, whose spending is restricted by law to its own facilities, justified the diversion by claiming the roadways are used to access its Lincoln Tunnel. The roads, including the Pulaski Skyway, however, do not connect to the tunnel and are miles away from it. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is also investigating the diversion.
Samson faces a separate investigation by the New Jersey State Ethics Commission regarding votes he took that appeared to benefit clients of his law firm.
The state legislative investigation that unearthed the traffic problems email, led by state Sen. Loretta Weinberg and Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski, has temporarily halted its work to avoid interfering with the federal probe. Christies office also hired its own team of lawyers to investigate. They found that Christie had no involvement and placed the blame largely on Kelly and Wildstein, finding there were ulterior motives. But neither investigation, which have combined costs of more than $8 million, got the cooperation of those and other key players who could shed additional light on how the closures came about.
The bi-state agency, now with a new chairman, has already made small internal changes and is on the cusp of making some big ones that would cut into the governors direct control of the agency. The agency will reclaim $600 million in toll money set aside for each governors pet projects. And this year, the agency will begin a national search for a chief executive officer to replace the two political appointees one appointed by each governor who now run its operations.
read the article here: http://www.northjersey.com/news/gwb-probe-one-year-later-1.1187466
George II
(67,782 posts)...that is doing their investigation, looking for testimony from Bill Baroni.
The Federal investigation is proceeding, the state is on quasi-hold pending the result of the Federal investigation.
Non-Automatic_Belief
(24 posts)What's wrong with this guy?
Laxman
(2,419 posts)at around $20,000. Wow were we wrong! It comes in at over $125,000!
How much would something like that cost?
Brace yourself as we travel to the world of billionaires: It would cost between $125,000 and $150,000, according to a luxury travel agent who arranges this kind of junket.
We get calls form CEOs or wealthy individuals who want to go a game, sit in the owners suite, go on the field afterward, meet a player prior to the game, all that stuff, says Robert Tuchman from Goviva. Thats our thing, all kinds of once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Holy Cow!
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/01/christies_stumble_in_dallas_could_be_fatal_moran.html#incart_river
George II
(67,782 posts)I wonder if he's still planning on traveling to Green Bay on Sunday? Is he taking a Greyhound bus this time?
herding cats
(19,564 posts)He said he'll be paying for his own travel and tickets this time.
If the image below depicting CBS estimates is correct, I doubt he can afford the golden ticket treatment again!