Chris Christie, Call Your Lawyer.
A year ago today, the nation was introduced to the now infamous line, "time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee" as emails were released from Chris Christie's deputy chief of staff, Bridget Anne Kelly. Despite Christie's continued insistence that his Bridgegate nightmare is over and he absolved of wrongdoing, the scandal and connected incidents keep bringing new travails for the governor. This morning, the Wall Street Journal reported that federal prosecutors have subpoenaed Christie's reelection campaign in relation to meetings Christie cancelled after a Democratic lawmaker refused to endorse him in his reelection bid. You have to hand it to the guy, when it comes to retribution, he truly is an elite politician. Meanwhile, there are new developments in Christie's latest fiasco surrounding his ethically dubious journeys to Jerry Jones' box for Cowboys games. According to the Asbury Park Press, the New Jersey State Ethics Commission "has received, and is reviewing, the complaint filed by American Democracy Legal Fund" regarding a potential ethics violation from Christie. It seems the governor "personally pushed" for a government contract to go to a firm partially owned by Jerry Jones, then turned around and accepted gifts from Jones in the form of travel, tickets, and awkward hugs. (okay, the hugs may be legal) All this is leading some in the press to say, "perhaps Chris Christie's first 2016 hires should be lawyers?"
Video: Chris Christie's Cowboy Ethics
For Chris Christie, it's the story that just won't die. In fact, it keeps getting worse. The focus of Christie's…
A 3rd & Long Day of Bad Press for Cowboys Superfan Governor Chris Christie
From his hometown editorial board to the pages of Sports Illustrated, New Jersey Governor "Cowboys' Mojo" Chris Christie was greeted again this morning…
Pat McCrory Doesn't Seem To Like Questions About Ethics…
Pat McCrory seems pretty irritable these days. Yesterday, he got into yet another tiff with an AP reporter trying to get to the bottom of his latest debacle. The governor continues to respond with utter contempt to questions about the eye-brow raising payout he received from a mortgage broker whose board he sat on as he took office in 2013. McCrory's response since this story broke has been damning enough -- the innocent are rarely so defiant. But his history of ethical shortcomings raises even more flags. We've already learned that he's downplayed his ties to an internet sweepstakes executive under indictment, and that he had a financial stake in Duke Energy when they spilled 39,000 tons of coal ash into the Dan river after McCrory helped loosen their regulations. It seems the more you dig, the more Pat McCrory conflicts of interests you uncover, so it's no wonder he gets a little short when you start asking questions.
Indiana Lawmaker Carrying Pence for President Legislation Is Tea Party To The Core
Indiana Governor Mike Pence wants to treat his current office as a concession prize and run for both re-election and president simultaneously. Unfortunately for the governor, it's against Indiana law...and the lawmaker attempting to change that for him provides a window into the worst of Pence's Tea Party politics. Meet State Senator Mike Delph, a famously combative Tea Partier who's had a hand in some of Indiana's most controversial legislation, including pushing a gay marriage ban, birther legislation, and Arizona-style immigration laws.
Introduced “Birther” Bill In Indiana
Delph Introduced “Birther” Bill In Indiana. According to The Hill, “Indiana Republican state Sen. Mike Delph, who’s still weighing a potential primary challenge to Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) next year, is pushing state lawmakers to take another look at his bill that would require presidential candidates to produce a birth certificate. Delph introduced a bill earlier this year to mandate presidential hopefuls produce the document in order to get on the ballot, but the measure is stuck in committee. Now, he wants a legislative study committee to take up the issue, hoping it will gain some additional traction, telling a local radio station that he thinks a ‘trust but verify approach’ is reasonable.” [The Hill, 4/19/11]
Home Field Advantage? NJ Front Pages Tee Off on Cowboy Christie
A quick look at Chris Christie's home state newspapers after he took a free private jet and tickets top the owner's…
TEA COZY: The New Crop of Extreme Tea Party Republicans Settling Into Washington
Today, the first of the 114th Congress, finds Tea Party favorites Representatives Ted Yoho and Louie Gohmert each planning to challenge John Boehner’s reelection as Speaker of the House. The Tea Party darlings’ bids for the speaker’s gavel might have long odds, but don’t let that fool you: nothing about the Republican Party’s extreme, Tea Party agenda has changed as a result of the GOP’s “rebrand.” Indeed, a quick scan of some of the newest members of the House being sworn in today shows just how extreme this latest crop of Tea Party Republican members of Congress truly are. Fortunately, American Bridge has done the work for you and included these Tea Partiers' top extreme hits in our new report:
Tea Cozy: The New Crop of Extreme Tea Party Republicans Settling Into Washington
Representing districts from Georgia to Maine, Virginia to Nevada, Illinois to Iowa, extreme Tea Party Republicans will be sworn today into the U.S. House of Representatives. Take Glenn Grothman in Wisconsin's 6th District to start. We've already detailed the long list of Grothman's greatest extreme hits, but as a quick refresher, the Congressman-elect has: proselytized about the “war on men,” fought for a seven-day workweek, and proposed a law to formally consider single parenthood a contributing factor to child abuse.New Video: Speaker Gohmert
Yesterday, amid growing interest within the Republican conference for a more conservative speaker, Louie Gohmert announced his intent to challenge John Boehner for the job. It's a prospect that could seem far-fetched, except this is a party who just stood by self-proclaimed "David Duke without the baggage" as their whip. Learn more at SpeakerGohmert.com.
American Bridge Submits Open Records Request Regarding Governor Christie's Travel
Below is a copy of the open records request American Bridge President Brad Woodhouse is submitting to the state of New Jersey regarding Governor Christie's travel to Dallas this weekend. --- To Whom It May Concern, It is known from press coverage that Governor Chris Christie, who has spent much of his time over the last year outside of New Jersey, was in Texas on Sunday, January 4. The following request is being made in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.) and all other New Jersey open record laws. I am requesting copies of the following records: Travel Logs/Itineraries: Copies of all travel logs and itineraries of Governor Chris Christie from January 3, 2015, to January 5, 2015. Records should detail the date and time of travel, the destination, the purpose of travel and meeting, and whom Christie met as available. Outlook Calendar: Copies of all outlook calendars of Governor Chris Christie from January 3, 2015, to January 5, 2015.
Another Chris Christie Fumble
Chris Christie hasn't had much to smile about over the last couple years -- eight credit downgrades, a massive ongoing traffic scandal, falling approval ratings, and a slew of negative headlines about his volatile temper. But the controversial governor finally had a moment of bliss yesterday, as he left New Jersey for Dallas to watch his beloved Cowboys eke out a victory in the NFL playoffs. Unfortunately for Christie, his jump for joy last evening quickly turned into a morning of bad press. It seems a Jerry Jones bro-hug is about the only love Chris Christie is seeing these days. Check out the twitter storm that Christie's antics invited, as well the bevvy of stories below: Asbury Park Press: Chris Christie hug of Cowboys owner costs taxpayers "So, how much did the trip to Dallas this past weekend cost for the Christie party and his security detail? The Cowboys play next week in Green Bay, Wisconsin – if Christie makes the trip, how much will taxpayers pay?" New York Daily News: Chris Christie denied high five by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones after win over Lions "The lifelong Cowboys fan, who has been a regular in Jones’ box this year, wasn’t done partying as Fox cameras caught him practically floating into the Cowboys locker room."