Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

malaise

(269,062 posts)
Mon Feb 10, 2014, 07:51 PM Feb 2014

How brazen is Chris Christie? Christie Request for Hoboken Mayor Interview Rebuffed

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-10/christie-request-for-interview-with-hoboken-mayor-rebuffed-1-.html
<snip>

Dawn Zimmer, the mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, rebuffed a request by lawyers for the office of Governor Chris Christie to interview her about her claims that his administration threatened to withhold Hurricane Sandy aid if she didn’t back a real-estate development project.

Randy Mastro, an attorney representing Christie’s office, sent letters Feb. 4 seeking documents and interviews with Zimmer and four city employees. On Feb. 6, Zimmer’s lawyer Gerald Krovatin declined the request, writing that the mayor and the city are already cooperating with a probe by U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman in Newark, New Jersey.

“We question whether it is appropriate for the governor’s office, in essence, to be investigating itself, particularly when an investigation of the same subject matter is being conducted by the U.S. attorney’s office,” Krovatin wrote to Mastro of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

---------------------------
Christie is history!!!
40 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
How brazen is Chris Christie? Christie Request for Hoboken Mayor Interview Rebuffed (Original Post) malaise Feb 2014 OP
"Yeah, uh, show us everything you have on us, will you?" louis-t Feb 2014 #1
This is arrogance on steroids malaise Feb 2014 #3
Jaw drop at this part: Raine1967 Feb 2014 #2
That's old news malaise Feb 2014 #4
I guess my jaw drop is that (as you put it in the OP) how brazen the Christie Admin is. Raine1967 Feb 2014 #5
OK I got your point malaise Feb 2014 #10
looks like there's so much more.... grasswire Feb 2014 #7
They'e sure digging their own hole malaise Feb 2014 #11
The US Attorney's office asked her not to give interviews, not Chrispie's team dorkzilla Feb 2014 #28
Has anyone been charged with a crime? If not there is no criminal case going on. Bandit Feb 2014 #38
They're investigating the possibility of a crime being committed dorkzilla Feb 2014 #40
Witness Tampering? PeoViejo Feb 2014 #6
David Corn agrees with you malaise Feb 2014 #18
Thanks Malaise. Do you know is Rachel going to be on tonight or mucifer Feb 2014 #8
I'm hoping malaise Feb 2014 #13
christie is toxic. it's over for the big guy. he got caught..... first no-no. spanone Feb 2014 #9
Christie is history malaise Feb 2014 #12
Christory!!!! spanone Feb 2014 #14
You betcha malaise Feb 2014 #15
when mark halperin turns on your republican ass, you're in trouble spanone Feb 2014 #16
Joe Scum too and Fuckie Todd malaise Feb 2014 #17
His head brazen head exploded.. Cha Feb 2014 #19
What a mean couple malaise Feb 2014 #20
I know, huh? there's Cha Feb 2014 #22
I agree totally with Zimmer's lawyer. Christie et al are just trying to intimidate, imho! nt arthritisR_US Feb 2014 #21
Yeah, like they haven't learned a damn thing.. hubris, Cha Feb 2014 #23
Hubris, that's the best descriptor for these a-holes! arthritisR_US Feb 2014 #24
It's like they're simply operating as if things haven't changed malaise Feb 2014 #25
And, we're all looking forward to that day.. Cha Feb 2014 #26
Geeze, another Nixon moment...investigate yourself..because you're not a crook that way. n/t Jefferson23 Feb 2014 #27
It's unbelievable malaise Feb 2014 #30
It's a genetic thing, malaise...you can see it, I think. Jefferson23 Feb 2014 #36
Well the US Attorney's office isn't joking malaise Feb 2014 #37
I think that is quite possible. I also feel that Christie has enough of Nixon's arrogance, not sure Jefferson23 Feb 2014 #39
Isn't he a little late??!! oldandhappy Feb 2014 #29
Also contacted Mayor Sokolich malaise Feb 2014 #31
This could be considered interference with a federal investigation Gothmog Feb 2014 #32
David Corn said it was tampering malaise Feb 2014 #33
It is a form of tampering. Gothmog Feb 2014 #34
Well Christie said he'd be having an internal investigation malaise Feb 2014 #35

malaise

(269,062 posts)
3. This is arrogance on steroids
Mon Feb 10, 2014, 08:00 PM
Feb 2014

The entire posse looks more incompetent by the minute
Did they really expect her to agree?

Raine1967

(11,589 posts)
2. Jaw drop at this part:
Mon Feb 10, 2014, 08:00 PM
Feb 2014
“I have met with and spoken at length with the U.S. attorney’s office regarding this situation, and I provided them with my journal and other documents,” Zimmer wrote. “As their investigation proceeds, they have asked me to refrain from giving any additional interviews and I am respecting that request.
What the ever loving heck is going on here?

malaise

(269,062 posts)
4. That's old news
Mon Feb 10, 2014, 08:01 PM
Feb 2014

Remember she met with them the Sunday before the MLK holiday - one day after breaking news on Kornacki.

Raine1967

(11,589 posts)
5. I guess my jaw drop is that (as you put it in the OP) how brazen the Christie Admin is.
Mon Feb 10, 2014, 08:04 PM
Feb 2014

His lawyers HAVE to know she can't talk to them.

(I'm not a lawyer but this just makes him look even worse.)

malaise

(269,062 posts)
10. OK I got your point
Mon Feb 10, 2014, 08:07 PM
Feb 2014

+1,000.

Apparently they think they're still in charge.
This does look very bad.

grasswire

(50,130 posts)
7. looks like there's so much more....
Mon Feb 10, 2014, 08:04 PM
Feb 2014

....than anyone could have dreamed. Their desperation is the reason to dig, dig, dig.

dorkzilla

(5,141 posts)
28. The US Attorney's office asked her not to give interviews, not Chrispie's team
Mon Feb 10, 2014, 09:40 PM
Feb 2014

I don't think this is jaw-dropping…there is an investigation going on and normally this is what they ask potential witnesses; see Paragraph 4 at the link--this covers both Chrispie's team and the press:

http://www.justice.gov/usao/tnw/brochures/vwhandbook.html

United States Attorney's Offices often receive calls from witnesses asking about their rights if a defense attorney or a defense investigator contacts them. Witnesses do not belong to either side of a criminal case. Thus, even though you may first be subpoenaed by the prosecution or by the defense, it is proper for the other side to try to talk to you. While it is the prosecution that is asking for your cooperation in this case, you may be contacted by the defense lawyer or an investigator for the defendant for an interview. While you may discuss the case with them if you wish to do so, you also have the right not to talk to them. The choice is entirely yours.

-snip-
We encourage you not to discuss the case with members of the press, since you are a potential witness in a criminal case and the rights of the government and the defendant to a fair trial could be jeopardized by pretrial publicity.

Bandit

(21,475 posts)
38. Has anyone been charged with a crime? If not there is no criminal case going on.
Tue Feb 11, 2014, 03:23 PM
Feb 2014

There is an investigation by the US Attorney which might determine if criminal charges are to be filed but right now the Christie Administration is overstepping their bounds.

dorkzilla

(5,141 posts)
40. They're investigating the possibility of a crime being committed
Tue Feb 11, 2014, 04:38 PM
Feb 2014

I agree that Christie team is overstepping their bounds, since they will have the change to see the evidence during pre-trial discovery. Clearly they're on a fishing expedition. They're the most untrustworthy bunch of people going.

I was responding more about the point that the DoJ told Zimmer not to talk to the press, as it seems as though somehow people thought it was Chrispie's order not to talk to the press.

mucifer

(23,553 posts)
8. Thanks Malaise. Do you know is Rachel going to be on tonight or
Mon Feb 10, 2014, 08:05 PM
Feb 2014

do they have the Olympics on MSNBC? I don't have cable tv.

Cha

(297,323 posts)
23. Yeah, like they haven't learned a damn thing.. hubris,
Mon Feb 10, 2014, 09:12 PM
Feb 2014

intimidation, arrogance, and the culture of bully got them into this mess.. so let's stay with that.

arthritisR_US

(7,288 posts)
24. Hubris, that's the best descriptor for these a-holes!
Mon Feb 10, 2014, 09:15 PM
Feb 2014

You are so right, they haven't learned a damn thing...idiots

malaise

(269,062 posts)
25. It's like they're simply operating as if things haven't changed
Mon Feb 10, 2014, 09:22 PM
Feb 2014

They don't yet realize that they are not in charge of the script any more.

Hubris and arrogance are great words for them but truth be told they appear to be high school bullies who are in way over their heads.

They will all learn.

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)
39. I think that is quite possible. I also feel that Christie has enough of Nixon's arrogance, not sure
Tue Feb 11, 2014, 03:28 PM
Feb 2014

if he is as paranoid as Nixon was. Then again, we may not be hearing about that side of him, yet.

As you know, Nixon freaked out about anyone he even imagined might be an enemy.

oldandhappy

(6,719 posts)
29. Isn't he a little late??!!
Tue Feb 11, 2014, 01:11 AM
Feb 2014

This happened weeks ago. Sort of a close the barn door long long after the horse got out.

malaise

(269,062 posts)
31. Also contacted Mayor Sokolich
Tue Feb 11, 2014, 05:33 AM
Feb 2014

Wants interview with Sokolich and public records from town of Fort Lee.
Way too late. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Gothmog

(145,321 posts)
32. This could be considered interference with a federal investigation
Tue Feb 11, 2014, 02:12 PM
Feb 2014

I am amazed that Gibson Dunn would attempt this stunt. There is a great deal of risk in trying to affect witness testimony

Gothmog

(145,321 posts)
34. It is a form of tampering.
Tue Feb 11, 2014, 02:41 PM
Feb 2014

Gibson & Dunn are trying for some free discovery and I have a feeling that Christie is hoping that Gibson & Dunn can issue an internal investigation report that clears him. A clean report from a major law firm may take some heat away from these investigations

malaise

(269,062 posts)
35. Well Christie said he'd be having an internal investigation
Tue Feb 11, 2014, 02:43 PM
Feb 2014

He should start with his staff because this attempt at tampering won't work.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»How brazen is Chris Chris...