Federal Inquiry Into Chris Christie Bridge Scandal Faces Uphill Battle

Quoted in this Huffington Post piece. 

...

"This may fall under the category of egregious behavior which we wish is criminal, but may or may not be," Loyola Law School professor Jessica A. Levinson told The Huffington Post.

Back when he was U.S. attorney, Christie was known for his aggressive pursuit of public corruption cases, often against politicians who happened to be Democrats. At the time, he was armed with the broad "honest services" statute, which was used to go after public corruption until it was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2010. The law, which made it illegal to deprive "another of the intangible right of honest services," was deemed unconstitutional. Nowadays, there has to be some sort bribery or kickback scheme to bring a honest services charge.

Levinson confirmed that an honest service charge is out for now unless information regarding improper payments comes out. "Right now this just looks like political retribution," she said.

"Ex-Newark Mayor Sharpe James accused of using nearly $100K in campaign funds for legal defense"

The New Jersey Star Ledger has more.

No NJ State Senate Run for Olympian Carl Lewis

"Former Olympic star Carl Lewis fails to meet residency requirements in New Jersey and is ineligible to run for the state Senate, Lt. Governor and Secretary of State Kim Guadagno decided Tuesday."

CNN has more. 

"Redistricting Battle Caused By Latino Pop. Growth in New Jersey Goes to Democrats"

"In a case closely watched by Latinos across the country, a specially appointed panel in New Jersey has rejected a Republican plan to create super-majority districts in favor of a Democratic one that spreads the Hispanic population over a larger number of districts."

Fox News has more. 

 

NJ Gov. Chris Christie Loses Redistrict Fight

"Democrats in New Jersey have a better shot at retaining a majority in Trenton this November after winning a once-in-a-decade fight to redraw legislative districts."

The WSJ has more.

"New Districts Seen as Aiding Democrats in New Jersey"

"New Jersey Democrats won a crucial victory for the next decade on Sunday as the state redistricting commission approved their legislative district map, dealing a blow to Republican hopes of retaking control of the Legislature."

The NYT has more.

"Gov. Christie arrives in New Brunswick for N.J. redistricting commission meetings"

"Gov. Chris Christie walked briskly into the Heldrich Hotel at about 11:45 a.m. today, where Republicans and Democrats are holed up as they prepare their final pitches for a new legislative district map."

The Star-Ledger has more. 

News from New Jersey: "Tea Party group crafts proposed redistricting map"

"The Bayshore Tea Party Group map proposal (follow link for PDF version, or see JPG to the right here) endeavors to stick to basics as spelled out by the New Jersey Constitution, such as not splitting a county into more districts than absolutely necessary. The county-split rule basically isn’t followed any more, as districts are now municipal-based. It’s also difficult to do — believe me, I was trying before I ditched my map-making experiment in favor of my paying job. Even the Tea Party’s group’s map wasn’t able to maintain the minimum-split goal for three counties (which is far fewer than the 15 counties that could be considered overly split in the current, about-to-expire map)."

The Asbury Park Press has more.

The NJ redistricting commission holds its final public meeting today

"Early in the testimony at today’s hearing, the topic turned to how to increase the representation of Hispanics in the Legislature — a debate that has shaped much of the process so far. This time, it was made in a heavily Hispanic city of Passaic, which is currently represented by three white lawmakers in the 36th Legislative District."

The Star-Ledger has more.

Which lobbying group spent the most money in New Jersey last year?

Answer: The Teacher's Union.

Business Week has more here.

"Tiebreaking member of N.J. commission defends politics of redistricting process"

"Alan Rosenthal, the tiebreaking member of the commission charged with redrawing the state’s 40 legislative districts, didn’t say much today in his first public meeting with the panel. But this much he made clear: politics isn’t a bad thing."

The Star-Ledger has more here.

How much money was spent on lobbying in New Jersey in 20101?

"A major campaign was waged across the state of New Jersey in 2010, even though nobody was up for election.
The state's largest teachers union poured $6.9 million into lobbying efforts, mostly through television and radio advertising, to fend off Gov. Chris Christie's attacks.
Overall, state spending on lobbying activities increased 13.9% to a record $65.6 million as groups from international corporations to local library associations fought for their share of the pie amid sharp budget cuts, according to reports released by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, a state agency that monitors lobbying and campaign finance."

The WSJ has more here.

News from New Jersey: "One-Time Upper Mayor, Career Money Man Admits to Embezzling from LoBiondo Camp"

"Andrew McCrosson’s been managing money for most of his adult life. The certified public accountant and former Upper Township mayor oversaw the municipal budget in the town he governed for the bulk of his Cape May County political career. He also served as the longtime city administrator in Ventnor and a former director of finance and administration for the United Way of Atlantic County. And, most recently, he did a brief stint as acting business manager in Trenton.
But it’s his role as campaign treasurer for Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd) that’s called his money management skills into question and will most likely land him in federal prison."

Click here for more.

Who did the New Jersey Supreme Court appoint to the redistricting commission to cast the tie breaking vote?

"... [Alan] Rosenthal is perhaps the most powerful person in New Jersey politics. On Thursday, he was appointed the 11th, tie-breaking member of the commission that redraws the state’s legislative district boundaries for the next 10 years based on Census data. That may not sound like a big deal, but think about it this way: How those districts are shaped in the new map will go a long way toward deciding which party controls the Legislature for the next decade, and it’s really up to Rosenthal to decide what the new map will look like. The commission has to produce a new map by early April."

The Star Ledger has more here.

New Jersey's redistricting panel cannot agree on a plan, so the State Supreme Court appointed a tiebreaker

"With time running out in New Jersey, the state's redistricting panel can't agree on how to shape the state's 40 legislative  districts based on the 2010 census data.
That impasse automatically triggered the need for State Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner to pick an independent tie-breaker to preside over the panel - composed of five Democrats and five Republican - that deadlocked this week."

WNYC has more here.

"Hoboken City Council parses out Zimmer's ethics and campaign finance reform package"

"Change has come to the city of Hoboken's pay-to-play ordinance, but not the way Mayor Dawn Zimmer and her allies on the City Council hoped it would unfold."

The Jersey Journal has this report. 

NJ Gov. Christie calls NJ's legislative maps unconstitutional

"'The map that was passed 10 years ago was unfair and unconstitutional,' Christie said."

Ginger Gibson, writing for the Star-Ledger, has more here. 

"Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer targets ethics, campaign reform"

The Jersey Journal has this report.

"The mayor's first initiative ramps up anti-wheeling laws and attempts to curb donations from political action committees (PACs) outside the Hoboken city limits and "close loopholes" within the city's current pay-to-play ordinance."

"Minorities especially need to understand the redistricting process that's going on"

The Jersey Journal has more here.

"New Jersey is currently drawing a new legislative map and the State GOP sees an opportunity to sell our minority citizens a bill of goods."

More ways to skirt pay-to-play laws?

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is facing questions surrounding the awarding of hundreds of millions of dollars in state contracts to companies that donated to a pro-Christie advocacy group, Reform Jersey Now. The companies' donations to a pro-Christine group, instead of Christie himself, may allow the companies to avoid campaign finance laws, while still using money to influence (or attempt to influence) Christie.

Click here for more from the WSJ.