Christie Crime Digest Volume III

[rocktivity]

151. After a drought of news, he gives us a deluge --

Last edited Fri Jul 15, 2016, 10:49 AM - Edit history (2)

in more ways than one!

NJ.com: A thunderstorm that swiftly blew through parts of the state...knocked down trees and took out power for thousands of residents, including Christie.

Christie and his wife Mary Pat were seen inspecting the damage around the neighborhood in the storm's aftermath. Asked by a reporter from WABC 7 New York whether he still had electricity, Christie responded with a thumbs-down...

ABC News: Donald Trump asked Mike Pence to be his running mate, and the Indiana governor accepted (says) a source with direct knowledge...Pence was seen landing at an airport near New York City...

Trump gave a phone interview on Fox News...praising his top three candidates: Pence, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich...

The official announcement was slated to be made at a news conference...but Trump tweeted...that it would be postponed "in light of the horrible attack in Nice, France."

Well, Christie can take comfort in having been one of the runners-up, and besides, it doesn't mean he still hasn't got a shot at being a Trump administration official. As chief of staff, attorney general, or head of the Department of Justice, he could still wield considerable political clout on a national level -- enough to squelch any further investigation of Bridge(t)-Gate, perhaps?

NJ.com: David Samson -- the embattled former chairman of the powerful Port Authority of New York and New Jersey -- pleaded guilty...to using his considerable clout to coerce one of the nation's largest airlines to accommodate his desire for a regularly scheduled, non-stop flight to his South Carolina summer home...United, which was not criminally charged, agreed to pay a fine of $2.25M...

Samson admitted that he "let it be known that the flight..made it more convenient" for him to get to his home in South Carolina...(and that) he removed from the Port Authority's agenda a plan by United to build a hangar for wide-body airplanes after being told United was not planning to reinstate the route...On Dec. 8, 2011, the hangar was approved by the Port Authority board. United then reinstated the South Carolina flight.

Samson has since retired from his firm Wolff And Samson (now known as Chiesa, Shahinian, and Giantomasi), due to "personal, professional and health reasons." However, Samson's PA chairmanship gave him enough autonomy that it really is possible that Christie didn't know about "the chairman's flight," if not other things.

Shortly after Samson's plea...U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman announced at a press conference that former state transportation commissioner Jamie Fox also had been charged in the case...(A)n influential Democratic operative and campaign adviser, (he) allegedly helped Samson strong-arm United into creating the flight...He faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

Well, now this is a problem: having one of his commissioners involved takes Christie into "If he didn't know, he should have" territory -- and far away from any shot at being in Trump's administration.

Samson could get a sentence ranging from probation to up to 24 months in prison, although the crime to which he pleaded guilty has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, prosecutors said.

A plea deal that takes him from a 10-year max to two? Either Samson is having MAJOR health problems, or he's given the prosecution info about Christie that has made Paul Fishman a VERY happy man!

When it rains, it pours...


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