Corzine likes Fishman, Hayden and Milgram for U.S. Attorney, and not Dow or Valentin
By Wally Edge
Gov. Jon Corzine is meeting with President-elect Barack Obama next week (along with several other area Governors) and could bring up his short list of three candidates for U.S. Attorney: the Governor likes Paul Fishman and Joseph Hayden, and Attorney General Anne Milgram. And there are two names -- both former federal prosecutors -- sources say, that Corzine opposes to replace Republican Christopher Christie: Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow and Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin.
It's possible that none of Corzine's three picks will get the job: Milgram would be opposed by some serious Democratic players, and Hayden has some pending legal matters -- he's the attorney for Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero who is under federal indictment and awaiting trial. Fishman, who reportedly has the backing of U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, is an interesting pick for Corzine: he's representing labor leader Carla Katz, the Governor's former girlfriend, in a lawsuit about private emails between the two.
Fishman, a former federal prosecutor and top aide to Attorney General Janet Reno, was Lautenberg's choice for U.S. Attorney in 1999, but didn't get the job when the Clinton White House sided with Robert Torricelli in a hefty internal Senate battle.
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Syndicate
Ashcroft, gonzalez, mukasey, goodling,sampson....Rove
HO ho ho.......Try none of the above.
Corzine has brass ones.
The one thing these three have in common is that Corzine and Jersey Dems would be assured they can go about their "business" without any fear of law enforcement. No need for ethics, no need to follow the law, they would have free reign. Hayden, as good a lawyer as he is, would not and could not go after his former clients and the inter-office politics would hamper any of his Deputies from prosecuting their bosses clients and friends. Milgram hasn't shown to be a tough prosecutor during her time as AG. She's better than Harvey or Farber but that's a really low bar to clear. And Katz's attorney? Are you kidding me? So he pays her mortgage, her kids private school tuition, gives her brother money, and then pushes her attorney for US Attorney. Anyone who says he's not afraid of those emails getting out has their head up their a&*.
Other Names
Fishman would be the most likely of those three, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a career guy like Ralph Marra get the nod, or at least be an extended holdover. I'd prefer someone younger though.
How about John Vazquez. http://www.critchleylaw.com/vazquez.html
1st Assistant AG, and 5 yrs as an AUSA before that.
Or how about Matthew Boxer, the current comptroller? he had 5 yrs as a Federal Prosecutor too, and prosecuted the "Monmouth 11".
Millgram is a Joke - Plus a Defendant in Lawsuit
Millgram is one of the biggest jokes of the Corzine appointments--universally despised for her arrogance and ineptitude. If someone sneezes she writes a press release, but she does nothing major, nothing important. Plus, she has pissed off every major leader that she would never get the political support for USAtny. Also, don't forget, she has been sued by a top official in her department---they won't appoint her for that reason alone.
Luis Valentin is awesome, smart, experienced and knows the job. He is the kind of man to do it well.
US Attorney
I believe OBama appoints US Attorney and it will interesting to see if he uses any of Corzine's suggestions. I hope not or it will be business as usual in NJ. Katz's attorney, is he kidding?????