CREW Files Complaint with Office of Special Counsel against Former New Jersey US Attorney Chris Christie

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) asked the
Office of the Special Counsel ("OSC") to investigate whether former United
States Attorney for the District of New Jersey Chris Christie violated the Hatch
Act by discussing a run for Governor of New Jersey with then-White House
official Karl Rove while he was still the U.S. Attorney.

Last week, the House Judiciary Committee released over 700 pages of
on-the-record interview transcripts of Karl Rove and Harriet Miers on the U.S.
Attorney firings and the Bush administration`s politicization of the Department
of Justice. During the course of his interview with the Committee, Mr. Rove was
asked about contacts he had with Chris Christie, the U.S. Attorney for the
District of New Jersey. Specifically, Mr. Rove was asked whether he or anyone at
in the Office of Political Affairs had any communications with Mr. Christie or
his office after he started as U.S. Attorney.

Mr. Rove responded:

I talked to him twice in the last couple of years, perhaps one time while I was at the White House and once or twice since I left the White House, but - not regarding his duties as U.S. Attorney, but regarding his interest in running for Governor, and he asked me questions about who - who were good people that knew about running for Governor that he could talk to.

The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from running for the nomination or as
a candidate for election to a partisan political office. Employees are barred
from any action that can reasonably be construed as evidence an individual is
seeking support for or undertaking an initial campaign to secure a nomination or
election to office. Prohibited activities include canvassing or soliciting
support as well as meeting with individuals to plan the logistics and strategy
of a campaign.

Mr. Rove`s statements demonstrate that while Mr. Christie was the U.S. Attorney,
he met with individuals to plan the logistics and strategy of a campaign and to
seek support in his efforts to secure the Republican nomination for governor in
violation of the Hatch Act. The Merit Systems Protection Board has held the OSC
retains jurisdiction over such matters even whereas here, the employee has left
the federal government.

CREW executive director Melanie Sloan stated, "The Hatch Act is intended to
ensure federal employees do their jobs without regard to partisan politics. Mr.
Christie`s actions call into question whether the New Jersey U.S. Attorney`s
Office investigated and prosecuted cases based on application of the law to the
facts, or because certain prosecutions might have enhanced his prospects of
securing the Republican nomination for governor."

Click here to read CREW`s complaint with the Office of Special Counsel.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a non-profit
legal watchdog group dedicated to holding public officials accountable for their
actions. For more information, please visit www.citizensforethics.org or contact
Naomi Seligman at 202.408.5565 // nseligman@citizensforethics.org

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
Naomi Seligman
202-408-5565
nseligman@citizensforethics.org

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