May 28, 2008 - 8:54am
Nobody told Biden about the federal monitors controversy
By Wally Edge
Category: US SenateTags: Frank Lautenberg, Chris Christie, John Ashcroft, Joe Biden, federal monitors, deferred prosecution agreements, dpas, New York Times editorial
Some House Democrats are touting stories that the Justice Department has awarded mega million dollar federal monitor contracts to oversee deferred prosecution agreements (dpas)to thirty politically connected former prosecutors and government officials as a fledgling scandal, but one key Senate Democrat says he hasn't heard about it yet.
U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE), a member (and former Chairman) of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was asked about a New York Times editorial and story on federal monitors and dpas at a press availability yesterday for Frank Lautenberg's re-election campaign.
“What monitors?” asked Biden.
Someone standing near the Delaware Senator said “Oh, he’s asking about (U.S. Attorney) Chris Christie’s appointment of John Ashcroft.” Ashcroft has received a federal monitor appointment that could be worth over $50 million.
“I’m unfamiliar with that,” Biden said. “I was Chairman (of the Judiciary Committee), but I’m unfamiliar with the appointment.”
At that point, Lautenberg’s staff took Biden away.
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"I am not supporting him, because he is not supporting the BCRO," Yudin said. "I simply said to him, and I stand by this, if elected officials feel they cannot support the BCRO, I cannot guarantee my support. He is a sitting assemblyman for 25 years, he has taken the position that he cannot give to the BCRO and I find that wrong, and I have warned him that is a position of mine."........
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cc stern AND umdnj, ashcroft..includes but not limited to.
There are a number of issues with monitors. This space is not nearly enough to tell the story, both the facts and the sociological implications. However, many of the senators and congresspeople govern at the will of their "chiefs of staffs" who all have their own agenda. The rest of their staff have varying assignments with limited knowledge in their area. Governing has to have a philisophical base. That base should be the elected officials' vision. Well...some of my elected and unelected lawmakers don't give a rat's ass about what the bush adminstration has done(monitors, politics in the the US Attorney's office etc.) Crime may not pay but bundling does. Case closed.
brain dead
I can't believe that Biden hasn't even heard about the Ashcroft issue. That was news outside of NJ too.
Its not like he's running for President or something.
Bad job by Biden's advance people, and Lautenberg's campaign staff too.
Biden for ... President.
Luckily for us Biden was eliminated pretty early (again, again, and again). He would surpass GWB up there, no doubt about it. For example, Mr. President Biden there is war in Iraq. Where is Iraq? Mr. President Biden Sen. Lautenberg is from NJ. Who? Where from? I think that is enough.