Report: Christie Officials Hiding Key Details On 'Stronger Than The Storm' Ads

[ProSense]

Report: Christie Officials Hiding Key Details On 'Stronger Than The Storm' Ads

Gov. Chris Christie's (R) office hid crucial details in newly released documents that could shed light on how a firm won a prized contract for an advertising campaign promoting New Jersey tourism in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

The Asbury Park Press obtained the score sheets from the six members of a panel assigned to choose a firm for the ad campaign, but Christie's office blacked out the names on the sheets. The redactions make it impossible to know whose votes helped East Rutherford, N.J.-based public relations firm MWW land the contract despite the fact that it wasn't the lowest bidder. State officials did not provide a reason for the redactions.

MWW charged the state $2.2 million more than one of its competitors for the bid, leading some to believe that it landed the contract because it proposed giving Christie a starring role in the "Stronger than the Storm" television spots (in an election year, no less). MWW released a statement Monday denying that its proposal mentioned including Christie in the advertisements, contradicting what an executive for the firm said last year.

The person who helmed the panel that awarded the contract to MWW was Michele Brown, who was in the middle of a controversy that surfaced during Christie's 2009 gubernatorial campaign and ultimately led to her resignation as a federal prosecutor. The New York Times reported that Brown was the recipient of a $46,000 loan from Christie that he neglected to report.

- more -

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/christie-sandy-ad-campaign-documents-redactions-hiding-details

CNN exclusive: Feds investigating Christie's use of Sandy relief funds
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024322990

All roads lead to Michele Brown, Chris Christie's longterm and very well paid pal.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024326360

[ProSense]

1. CNN:

Gov. Chris Christie to make bridge controversy part of State of State address

<...>

While political observers say the bridge scandal isn't good for Christie, the Sandy investigation has the potential to be much more damaging to his national image since it was his signature achievement following the devastating storm.

<...>

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/14/politics/chris-christie-state-of-the-state/

The Sandy investigation is key to the pattern of abuse, but the media seems to be focusing on this because of Christie's "national image."

The bridge scandal is explosive, including using the Port Authority Police Department to exact political retribution. There are already two lawsuits (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024326199).

Christie's Governorship is on the line.

Bridge Scandal Documents Indicate Effort to Hide Political Motive
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024312727

NJ Rep.: 'Unbelievable' That Nobody Told Christie (VIDEO)

The New Jersey assembly member who has been leading the legislature's investigation into the George Washington Bridge lane closures, John Wisniewski (D) on Sunday said it was "unbelievable" that Gov. Chris Christie (R) did not know about his aides' plans.

"This senior aide, who was with him that day, who sent the order, never once communicated with him? It's unbelievable," Wisniewski said on CBS' "Face the Nation," referring to Bridget Kelly, Christie's former chief of staff.

<..>

"Any governor that is running for re-election is going to want to know about problems that come up," he said. "It just strains credibility that they didn't look at those documents and say, 'We ought to let him know about it.'"

When asked if Christie's involvement in the plan would be an impeachable offense, Wisniewski said that Christie has not yet been directly implicated on the plan, but added that the activities carried out by his aides were illegal.

"I think we're a little early on that," he said about impeachment. "When you use the George Washington Bridge for what the emails show to be political payback, that amounts to using public property for a private purpose or for a political purpose, and that's not legal."

- more -

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/new-jersey-assembly-man-christie-story-unbelievable

[ProSense]

2. The Aide At The Center Of The Other Chris Christie Controversy

The Aide At The Center Of The Other Chris Christie Controversy

<...>

In August 2009, while Christie was running for governor, the New York Times reported that in 2007 he had loaned Brown $46,000 without disclosing it in his tax return or other documents. Christie subsequently chalked it up to helping a friend in need and insisted she was in no way helping his campaign. But the Times was skeptical: it spoke with federal law enforcement officials who, the paper reported in October 2009, said she was interceding to handle Christie's opponent's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for travel and expense records of Christie and Brown. The Times reported that the officials, who were not named, suggested she "used her position in two significant and possibly improper ways to try to aid Mr. Christie in his run for governor."

Brown told the Times the allegations were "outrageous and inaccurate," and Christie's campaign reportedly held to its assertion that she wasn't helping. There appears to have been no smoking gun to prove otherwise. She stepped down from her position at the prosecutor's office that summer.

Also in August 2009, news broke that Christie was in 2005 pulled over and received three citations for speeding, driving with an unregistered car and driving with an uninsured car. Christie had reportedly told the cop he was a U.S. attorney. He ended up paying a fine. A Christie spokesman confirmed to New Jersey 101.5 FM radio that one of the people in the car with Christie -- along with his wife and children -- was Brown.

In October 2009, the Associated Press obtained travel records revealing that Christie "regularly spent beyond federal guidelines on business travel while U.S. attorney" -- including repeated $400-per-night stays at luxury hotels. During trips he took in 2007 and 2008, the AP reported, Brown had "also exceeded the guidelines after Christie approved her requests for rooms in the same five-star hotels where he was booked."

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/chris-christie-sandy-funds

Christie is a product of the media's lame reporting on a friggin corrupt bully.

Christie Expected To Address Bridge Scandal In Speech
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024328445

[ProSense]

3. Kick! n/t

[SunSeeker]

4. K & R

[libdem4life]

5. His misogyny is showing, especially when it comes to his comments about Ms. Kelley. Fired

Immediately. The two male aides were, uh, let go or some similar soft landing.

[Cha]

6. K&R for now.. till I have time to read it.

thanks PS

[spanone]

7. k&r...

[DeSwiss]

8. K&R

[bucolic_frolic]

9. $4.7 million seems a lot of money to shoot a few local commercials

A politician's hands might be tied as to how the federal monies
can be spent, but one who publicly says

'Lets shoot these ultra low budget so the money can be moved
to storm relief'

would have a winning ad that would be unassailable

$4.7 million? A proposal, camera and sound crew, gaffer, truck and driver,
travel, 6-8 hours of shooting, reprocessing and editing ...

I'm not one for budget cuts to federal relief aid, but seems to me
this could be tightened up. Matching funds $2 million limit for tv
advertising

It's not like the regional news doesn't give the public wall to wall
coverage of disasters, clean up, recovery

[ProSense]

10. NJ Lawmaker: Christie Role In Sandy Ads Could Violate Campaign Law

NJ Lawmaker: Christie Role In Sandy Ads Could Violate Campaign Law

New Jersey Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D), the lawmaker leading the state probe into the lane closures on the George Washington Bridge last year, on Tuesday alleged that Gov. Chris Christie may have broken campaign finance laws by starring in tourism ads paid for with federal Sandy relief funds.

"When the governor is running for reelection, to use his image relentlessly in those ads, borders on at least a campaign law violation," he said in an interview with Fusion’s Jorge Ramos.

Wisniewski said that Christie's appearance in the ads constituted "an improper expenditure" because his starring role was meant to boost himself, not the state of New Jersey.

"He should not be using those funds to advertise himself during the middle of a general election campaign, and that's what he did," he said.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/wisniewski-christie-ad-appearance-violate-campaign-law