Christie Allegedly Diverted Millions In Hurricane Sandy Relief Funds To Pay For TV Ads Starring Him

[sheshe2]

Christie Allegedly Diverted Millions In Hurricane Sandy Relief Funds To Pay For TV Ads Starring Himself
BY IGOR VOLSKY ON JANUARY 13, 2014 AT 8:53 AM



The Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has opened a federal investigation into whether New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) improperly used Hurricane Sandy relief funds to produce commercials starring himself and his family ahead of his re-election campaign. Auditors will examine how the Christie administration used $25 million set aside for “a marketing campaign to promote the Jersey Shore and encourage tourism,” focusing on the bidding process to award a $4.7 million to a politically connected firm that cast Christie and his family in the Sandy ads, while “a comparable firm proposed billing the state $2.5 million for similar work” but did not include Christie in the commercials.


The ads produced by the company, MWW, attracted significant criticism. The New Jersey Star Ledger accused Christie of siphoning off “money that was intended for victims of Sandy to promote himself in a series of TV ads,” and described the move as “offensive” and a ” new low.” Watch the ad here:

Here are 6 things you need to know about the investigation:

1. Congress raised alarms about the ads in August. In August, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) alerted the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that the Christie administration may have “irresponsibly misappropriated funding allocated by Congress from the Sandy aid package” and used funds set aside for promoting the state “for political purposes.” “[T]he contract was awarded to a firm that is charging over $2 million more than the next lowest bidder to develop the marketing plan,” Pallone wrote, noting that “the winning bid proposed including Governor Chris Christie in the advertisements, while the lower cost proposal that was not selected did not.” “It is inappropriate for taxpayer-funded dollars that are critical to our state’s recovery from this natural disaster to fund commercials that could potentially benefit a political campaign.”

more

http://thinkprogress.org/home/2014/01/13/3152271/6-need-know-federal-investigation-chris-christies-sandy-relief-funds/

edit to add video

[bigdarryl]

1. Is it a crime

Just asking

[democratisphere]

3. If it isn't illegal, it should be.

Christie cares about one thing; himself. The residents of NJ need disaster relief; removal of Christie from office!

[LeftyMom]

4. Yes. It's a federal crime, the maximum penalty is ten years in Club Fed.

As a former US Attorney, Christie is hardly ignorant of that fact.

[sakabatou]

9. If it is found out it is true, I hope he gets the full 10 years

[Ilsa]

2. I hope this will be the last straw for any remaining

Dems supporting this blowhard.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Has anyone done any research on the filming company that benefitted?

Look, the day of the cash kickbacks is over. People get contracts today. That's how it's done. If you want a picture to determine if there is crookedness in government, take a look at what companies are playing by the rules and getting wrenches thrown at them, and which ones seem to appear at the final hour with the right T&C's as if they can read minds.

I suspect that this is going to get worse as we come up to the next election, with honest companies that can't be counted on for GOP donations getting royally screwed.

[kestrel91316]

6. That, my friends, should land the man in federal prison. But we all know it won't.

There is still a double standard in this country. He is too wealthy and powerful to be expected to truly pay for his crimes.

[Blue Owl]

7. Is that a stunt double, or is he beside himself again?

n/t

[Kingofalldems]

8. Looks like a muti layered investigation of the GOP's top star

Benghazi!!

[NightWatcher]

10. Tsk tsk. Using disaster funds for electioneering

What a schmuck.