There’s a lot about New Jersey politics that makes people go, “hmmmm.”
Here’s another.
Former Attorney General John Ashcroft last month donated $2,500 to the New Jersey Republican State Committee, NJ.com reported Wednesday.
The contribution came three days after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie held a fundraiser in Ashcroft’s home state of Missouri.
“The governor and Mr. Ashcroft have a long professional relationship going back to their years at the Justice Department,” said state GOP spokesman Rick Gorka.
That’s for sure.
Christie worked for Ashcroft as U.S. Attorney for three years. But their professional relationship didn’t end there. The association became controversial in 2007, when Christie awarded Ashcroft’s law firm a contract to monitor a medical device maker accused of offering kickbacks to doctors.
Ashcroft’s contract to monitor the Indiana medical supply company was part of an out-of-court settlement was worth between $28 and $52 million. The company, Zimmer Holdings, had been under criminal investigation by the Christie-led U.S. Attorney office. The company hired Ashcroft’s consulting firm in 2007 at the direction of Christie to monitor its compliance with the settlement.
Democrats raised the issue during the campaign and Christie was hauled before a House subcommittee to testify about the deal. The hearing became heated and Christie stormed out of the meeting, providing Democrats with more ammunition.
