Wow! Rachel just announced,

[Cleita]

FBI investigating abuse of power of Christie's administration. Details developing.

The Feds are getting involved?

[Lint Head]

1. Some times I love me some feds!

[Hoyt]

2. Hope they get something concrete on Christie, but I'm feeling like Plamegate.

[Whisp]

3. yeh. all that needs to be done is someone kick some sand in the fed faces

and, sorry, we can't do anything.

fuck Fitz

[Hoyt]

4. God, I remember expecting and praying for a big indictment for months. Nothing.

What a disappointment.

[Sheepshank]

60. Pretty sure the feds....any fed agency

Is not about to put their necks on the chopping block. Fed agencies will try not be taking extreme risks to smear what little public good will remains. The FBI involvement comes with a high degree of assurance there is real fire behind this smoke

[Whisp]

61. I certainly hope so. Just girding for dissapointment tho. n/t

[alfredo]

13. He stepped on too many toes.

[nikto]

33. Concrete...

Like Galoshes?

[Hoyt]

35. What a great basis for a conspiracy theory if he disappeared.

Not hoping for it or anything, but concrete galoshes would sure fit with the bullying.

[tavalon]

42. Except I think he's the mafia boss, and that's the one the doesn't swim with the fishes.

[MynameisBlarney]

43. If his minions turn on him

he might.

[tavalon]

45. I'd rather see him do the perp walk.

Hard to run for President from prison, ya know?

[MynameisBlarney]

49. Me too.

Along with his staff.

[Aerows]

62. He's (rightly)

been thrown under the bus though.

[tavalon]

69. So rightly.

It's nice when the bad ones get thrown under the bus.

[ProSense]

5. FBI questions Hoboken mayor’s aides, sources say

FBI questions Hoboken mayor’s aides, sources say

By Michael Isikoff

FBI agents have begun questioning witnesses in the investigation into whether New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s aides threatened to cut off Hurricane Sandy relief money to Hoboken unless the city’s mayor backed a billion-dollar development project, three sources with direct knowledge of the probe told NBC News on Wednesday.

Federal prosecutors and agents have also instructed key witnesses to preserve all documents and emails relating to the allegations by Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, these sources said.

After Zimmer gave her account of the alleged threat to federal prosecutors on Sunday, federal agents questioned Dan Bryan, Zimmer’s chief of staff, and Juan Melli, her communications director, the sources said.


The two Zimmer aides are among at least five witnesses who Zimmer told the FBI could confirm that she had previously told them about the conversation she says she had with Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno last May. Zimmer has alleged that during that conversation in a parking lot, the lieutenant governor linked Sandy funding to backing of the development project.

- more -

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/sources-fbi-questions-hoboken-mayors-aides

[Cleita]

6. Yep. I was just going to post as well.

Thanks. You have sources. Why are they going after Zimmer first? Is the Guv too hot to handle?

[hrmjustin]

7. Procedure.

[ProSense]

8. I don't, but

"You have sources. Why are they going after Zimmer first? Is the Guv too hot to handle?"

...it seems to me that based on Zimmer's account, her journal and letters, and the Feds trying to confirm the details, Christie needs to be having a serious conversation with his lawyers.

[Laxman]

24. That Is Correct....

that's where the evidence is, that's what hit the public first, that's the easiest to nail down. You start here. Once you figure out that not only is she telling the truth, but there is corroboration, the fun will begin. It also prevents the U.S. Attorney from being embarrassed farther down the road.

[2naSalit]

37. another thought on the tactic...

Since the state officials are investigating the bridge thing and haven't begun on the new Hoboken issue, the feds can jump on this aspect and come to the "center" of the sh*tpile from more than one direction. Bridgegate is a federally appropriate case since it involved interstate commerce and transportation, but the Sandy funds, now that's a whopper... and he made all those pricey commercials with a bunch of that money as a campaign prop. And on top of that, he scuttled all oversight of the dispersal of the federal Sandy funds which still have yet to be delivered to the actual intended recipients... there's a whole bunch of there there and I can sense a long hard year for Mr Crispy. This is starting to look like Blogo on steroids.

And who knows, could unravel a big fat onion of corruption throughout the country from this one dirty spot on the map.

He's been said to be tied to the Kochs and look who his defenders are, including Chertoff...


Ooooh baby.

[George II]

22. They're not going "after" Zimmer, they're investigating.

[Cha]

15. I thought this was particularly interesting...!

As I commented on warrior's thread..

"David Mello, a member of the Hoboken City Council, told NBC News that Zimmer told him about the Guadagno conversation last summer, either in late July or early August as they were walking home after an event. “I distinctly remember [Zimmer] saying that the lieutenant governor said, ‘If this came out, she would deny it,’” he said.

“I thought it was absurd and outrageous,” said Mello, adding that he pressed Zimmer whether she would speak out publicly about what she said took place. “She told me, ‘It was a done deal that [Christie] was going to be re-elected” and she did not want to jeopardize further funding for the city, he said."


thanks PS

[calimary]

27. Ouch! Corroborating witness. That's gonna hurt!

[SunSeeker]

32. Wow. I think that is even better than the diary entries. nt

[Cha]

34. Yeah, someone under oath

to corroborate her recollections of what Kim Guadagno said to her at the time.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

25. I hope those witnesses stay safe.

[polichick]

9. This is really getting interesting.

[flamingdem]

10. I can hear the shredding in Trenton

from 5,000 miles away!

[Cleita]

12. LOL!

[hrmjustin]

14. Lol!

[klook]

18. King of Shredding

- source: http://usedshreddingtrucks.com/ ... and, in case it's not clear, I am in no way implying any wrongdoing by this company! Although you never know about their customers....

Actually I thought the King of Shredding was maybe somebody like Steve Vai or Ritchie Blackmore, but soon it could be Crisp Crispy.

[flamingdem]

19. That could be Christie's new nickname

How can he trust his underlings to do it for him now!!

[spanone]

11. k&r...

[volstork]

16. Hmmmmm

[madashelltoo]

17. Two Jersey reporters on Lawrence O'Donnell

Feel the Feds have no case. All of the evidence thus far has come from Mayor Zimmer's perspective. Her diary and letters and the accounts of those she told about her conversation are not enough to bring charges. They were discouraging, on purpose, I think. One was from PolitifaxNJ. A Christie crony methinks

[flamingdem]

20. Well, we'll see about that

Perhaps the feds talking to Zimmer is a technique to make the canaries sing?

[ProSense]

38. They're

"Two Jersey reporters on Lawrence O'Donnell

Feel the Feds have no case. All of the evidence thus far has come from Mayor Zimmer's perspective. "

...probably Christie supporters at heart. I mean, they're entitled to their opinions, but how would they know?

Also, others disagree.

But James Cohen, a law professor at Fordham University, said the Hoboken case is more serious.

"Closing the George Washington Bridge, that is very serious. It takes a lot of balls," Cohen said. "But this deals with dollars — the misuse of federal tax dollars. The feds will treat that very, very serious."

Legal experts: Alleged Sandy extortion could be more serious than Bridgegate
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/01/21/1271494/-Legal-experts-Alleged-Sandy-extortion-could-be-more-serious-than-Bridgegate

IMO, Zimmer case is a good place to start. It shows a pattern. Still, I really think people are overlooking the fact that Christie's corrupt use of the Port Authority is a BFD. Remember, it was enough on it's own to launch an investigation.

NJ Port Authority Chief Warned That Bridge Lane Closures Were Illegal
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024311993

US attorney inquiry into Christie widens
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024358948

[George II]

21. This was already reported on NBC's website and the Bergen Record (newspaper) site.

[bettyellen]

46. YAY!!!! Hopefully more media will pick it up!

[Laxman]

23. There Will Be At Least Two More....

mayors revealing that they were pressured by the Christie administration with the intimation that Sandy money would be forthcoming if an endorsement was forthcoming. One I believe will come forth voluntarily, the other won't have to. They will figure it out without him having to say so first.

One mayor pressured would be an anomaly, two a coincidence, three is a pattern. I think we have a pattern of behavior here.

[flamingdem]

29. Good! Zimmer will be vindicated

and somebody is going down.

[VanillaRhapsody]

26. be glad to hear them say that the investigation points directly at Christie...

[elleng]

28. Yes, as appears to relate to distribution of Sandy funds,

and as it's our $$$, Feds should be involved.

[mercymechap]

30. If there's no e-mails

they're going to deny everything and it will not hurt Christie any more...but, if they were to find at least one incriminating e-mail or any type of record to back the allegation.....it's over for Christie.....

[bettyellen]

48. nope, people have gone to jail just on testimony before….but THANKS FOR TRYING.

her notes are impeccable, the Mayor keeps accurate records. HA.

[mercymechap]

55. Well, I certainly hope so,

nothing would please me more than to see some arrogant conservative go to jail for breaking the law, but so far all I've seen is "she said/he said)......but, hope springs eternal....

[herding cats]

31. This totally explains the gag on Zimmer

Imagine what it must be like near Christie right now. He's got to be in melt down mode!

[pnwest]

36. I'm betting the rethugs are thinking

a good old fashioned sex scandals looks real good about now...

[tavalon]

39. Watergate was a little thing until it took down a President

Bridgegate will take down a Presidential hopeful. Buh, bye.

[tavalon]

40. Does anyone else think that the Christie administration resembles

the mob?

[MynameisBlarney]

47. Yup.

Very much so.

[Kingofalldems]

41. Looks like Christie went a bridge too far.

[polichick]

64. Good one - wonder if that's been a headline yet?

[Kingofalldems]

65. I bet the NY Daily News has done it.

[polichick]

67. Just did a search on their site - not there, unless I somehow missed it.

[Dopers_Greed]

44. Even if they find anything...

Who wants to bet that Holder and Obama will want to "look forward not backward"?

[sadoldgirl]

50. Well, CC is playing it like Reagan

He also used the phrase:" Mistakes were made" in the Iran Contra affair. They all learned from that, because nobody was really punished. Still, hope springs eternal, and if he won't run as presidential candidate, it has had a "reasonable success.

[Cleita]

53. How soon before, the "I am not a crook" speech a la Nixon?

Welcome to DU sadoldgirl.

[lark]

51. Whoohoo!!

While justice is rarely found when rich or powerful people are involved, we can always hope that at this level, some might still exist.

[mikeysnot]

52. I want this POS to run for POTUS on the GOP ticket.

The GOP's great white hope is nothing but a self serving, egotistical, bully, POS.

I want him to melt down on national TV just like Romney did.

[VA_Jill]

54. RICO! n/t

[Cleita]

56. You are prophetic.

Mike Papantonio just said it will end up as a RICO case. Said things are like "Boardwalk Empire". He ties Christie to Wall Street as one of their toadies and says Hillary Clinton has the same Wall Street money funding her.

[PatrynXX]

57. something smells

ie Christiegate is gonna be so big it'll make all the non scandals the dems have look silly. Blago is sitting in jail for less.

[Hepburn]

58. Cannot wait to see him exercising in the prison yard

[PeoViejo]

59. ..and all of the peeps he buffaloed into copping a plea....

..will be waiting to greet him on arrival...he's going to have a fun time in prison.

[Hepburn]

70. Sweet, poetic justice! n/t

[Aerows]

63. Christie made to many enemies

and got too big for his britches.

[Cleita]

66. I'm kinda glad. I've been fed up with government

corruption and a abuse of the system for quite awhile now, not just in NJ but nationwide. Maybe this will be a start in shinning a light on this all over the country and maybe our courts and other watchdog entities might start doing something about it.

[randome]

68. Ironic, isn't it? The more weight he lost, the bigger he thought he became.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen, Anthem (1992)[/center][/font][hr]