Ashcroft: no conflict on monitoring deal

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - Former Attorney General John Ashcroft denied any conflict of interest Tuesday in connection with a multimillion dollar arrangement with the Justice Department to monitor a corporation accused of wrongdoing.

Ashcroft, now a lobbyist, said the department and the corporation decided to seek his services and offered him the opportunity after their discussions. He confirmed that he did not participate in any bidding for the contract — said to be worth between $28 million and $52 million — but denied any conflict of interest in the monitoring appointment from New Jersey U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie, who worked for Ashcroft when he headed the department.

The former attorney general said there was no public money involved in the deal. Generally, corporations hire monitors as part of a settlement agreement with the government.

"This hearing cost far more in tax dollars than my monitorship will cost, because it did not cost taxpayers one thin dime," Ashcroft told a hearing before a House Judiciary subcommittee investigating the contract. "There is not a conflict, there is not an appearance of a conflict."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080311/ap_on_go_co/us_attorneys_oversight

[AzDar]

1. Oh, okay. thanks for clearing that up for us, Johnny.

:eyes:

Let the eagle soooooooaaarrr......

[TheDebbieDee]

2. So he says...........

[SpiralHawk]

3. "And besides, I'm a republicon and Jesus has already forgiven me." - Ashcroft

"So move along. There's nothing (smirk) to see here. Smirk." - Ashcroft

[fascisthunter]

4. See, Spitzer... if You Were a Real Scum Bag Like Republicans

are, you'd deny what happened to the very end.

[benld74]

5. WHERE eagles soar John-John, where eagles soar, directly into your bank account

[Supersedeas]

6. if he says so, then it must be true (Gonzo and Muk Muk will vouche)