February 21, 2008 - 7:44pm
Christie says Justice Department orders or bust
By Max PizarroVINELAND - U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie confirmed today that he would not testify Tuesday before a House Judiciary Committee seeking information about his actions in rewarding a federal monitoring contract to former boss John Ashcroft.
The contract for the former U.S. Attorney General is worth between $27 and $52 million.
"I said all along that if the Justice Department asks me I will," said Christie, who said he refuses to get into a back and forth with U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, who yesterday suggested Congress may have to issue a subpoena in order to get Christie to testify.
Christie told PolitckerNJ.com that it impractical to think of United States attorneys going individually without departmental oversight to participate in Congressional hearings.
"If the Justice Department instructs me, I’ll go," he repeated.
The U.S. Attorney was in Vineland today to deliver a speech about gang violence, public corruption and civic responsibility before the Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce at the Ramada Inn.
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Another campaign stop for US Attorney Christie
"The U.S. Attorney was in Vineland today to deliver a speech about gang violence, public corruption and civic responsibility before the Vineland Chamber of Commerce at the Ramada Inn."
You mean he was at one of those thinly vieled campaign stops that he makes multiple times a week. A review of Christie's schedule would reveal multiple events a week of this nature.
Amazing
Chris Christie will talk to the press, but not to Congress.
The Constitutional mandate of co-equal branches of government is over.
So....
Big Boy pleads the 5th?
"I WAS ONLY FOLOWING ORDERS" IS THE BEST...
...defense Christie offers us. He can say anything he likes to reporters lobbing softballs; he's afraid to testify under oath before a congressional investigation.
His integrity has been questioned and he's hiding behind George Bush's skirts. (Hey, that would make a great cartoon! Any artists out there? ;-)
For an interesting discussion of some of these questions see the following thread here...
http://www.politickernj.com/pallone-christie-won039t-testify-16564
From Frederick Douglass