Ashcroft's cozy deal

THE award by a federal prosecutor of a no-bid contract that could run as high as $52 million to a consulting firm headed by former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft is outrageous but not, apparently, illegal.

Zimmer Holdings, a large medical-supply firm based in Indiana, reached agreement with assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie of New Jersey for an out-of-court settlement of criminal charges based on the firm's alleged kickbacks to doctors for knee and hip implants.

To monitor the agreement, Mr. Christie directed Zimmer to his former boss at the Justice Department, Mr. Ashcroft, who is now a consultant. Zimmer will pay the Ashcroft Group between $28 million and $52 million for the work.

This practice is apparently not unusual, at least in recent years, as former members of the Bush Administration have found all sorts of ways to cash in on their government service.