Federal prosecutor who took loan from GOP governor candidate Chris Christie resigns

[ccharles000]

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/us_prosecutor_at_center_of_chr.html

TRENTON -- The federal prosecutor at the center of the controversy over a loan made by Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie resigned today.

Michele Brown, the acting First Assistant U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, said in her resignation letter it has been an "honor and privilege" to serve, but she does not want to be "a distraction" for her colleagues.

The surprise departure came only eight days after it was revealed Brown had borrowed $46,000 from Christie while Christie was her boss as U.S. attorney. The disclosure became a bigger campaign issue for the GOP candidate after Christie acknowledged he did not include it on his income tax returns and mandatory financial disclosure reports.

"I am extraordinarily proud of all the work we have done and all the good we have accomplished on behalf of the people of this state," Brown wrote. "I also know how important it is that we continue to pursue our mission, and I do not want to become a distraction from the critically important work we do."

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/us_prosecutor_at_center_of_chr.html

[LiberalFighter]

1. Must be nice to have friends in high places when needing a loan.

If they couldn't obtain a loan from normal sources then they should had consider moving their asses to a more affordable house. If that was the problem.

[msanthrope]

2. I wonder if this 2005 traffic stop has anything to do with it....

Christie Cited In 2005 Traffic Incident -- Michele Brown Involved
Eric Kleefeld | August 26, 2009, 4:59PM

SNIP

Christie was pulled over for speeding, and turned out to be driving an unregistered and uninsured car. He was cited for all three violations. The tickets were marked "NO DEAL," a disclaimer reportedly used by police when they feel that a driver's behavior merits not going easy on them. Christie later paid a fine, and the unregistered vehicle offense was dismissed. The Lambertville municipal court's office has also confirmed the authenticity of the tickets to TPM.

SNIP

Lambertville police director Bruce Cocuzza told PolitickerNJ that Christie had become "agitated" about the possibility of his car getting towed. He was ultimately allowed to drive away: "He was a little loud at the prospect of being towed and then calmed down. He identified himself as a U.S. Attorney but I don't think the officer on duty knew what that was."

The issue here, according to the report, is that Christie and Brown may have attempted to invoke their rank with the police officer. The Christie campaign has acknowledged that Christie's position as a U.S. attorney did come up, though Christie does not recall who brought it up.

Radio host Casey Bartholomew said: "We do not want Jon Corzine re-elected, but we would be remiss and partisan if we did not discuss Christie's ethics. Why is he using his influence as a U.S. Attorney to make a police offer go away, in the same way Zulima Farber did?" Zulima Farber is a former state Attorney General who resigned after she intervened in a traffic stop against her boyfriend.

SNIP

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/christie-cited-in-2005-traffic-incident----michele-brown-involved.php?ref=fpb

More at link.....

Interesting, the Christie campaign claims Brown, Christie, and his wife and kids were in the car. I'd like to see confirmation of that.