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Corzine allegations cross line into political smears
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AP Photo/Mel Evans
Governor Jon Corzine escalated charges made by his running mate, State Senator Loretta Weinberg, that Republican Christopher Christie was planning a run for governor while he was serving as U.S. Attorney for Newark. Corzine said that the revelation of conversations Christie had with White House political adviser Karl Rove called into question Christie's entire tenure as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor.
"I am under the impression that U.S. Attorneys are supposed to be free of politics," Corzine said. "If politics comes into play, then the whole basis of justice is called into question. Are the actions taken dependent on the fair administration of justice, or are there political issues?"
The Christie campaign fired back, calling Corzine's campaign "desperate" and pointing out that as a U.S. Senator, Corzine voted to confirm Christie to his post. "Jon Corzine is doing what he does best, making false accusations," Christie campaign spokesperson Maria Comella said. "Governor Corzine not only voted for Chris' appointment, but be repeatedly praised his work over the course of his service."
Rove told a Congressional panel that he had two or three conversations with Christie before he announced his gubernatorial campaign. Rove said that he offered to help Christie make a decision on whether to run for elective office at the end of his term as U.S. Attorney, but said that Christie seemed "timid" about the idea and "was a long way from the practical politics of [running]."
Corzine has offered no direct evidence to back up his allegation that Christie made prosecutorial decisions based in part on his future political aspirations. If true, it would be a very serious charge. However, lacking such evidence, the allegations amount to nothing more than a political smear against Christie, who is widely recognized as having been a very successful U.S. Attorney.
The heightened attacks on Christie's strength, his reputation, by the Corzine campaign can likely be attributed to his position in the polls, and the influx of new campaign operatives seasoned in old school New Jersey political brawling. But if Corzine is unable to produce any actual evidence of wrongdoing by Christie, the smear is likely to be as unsuccessful at improving Corzine's chances of re-election as his previous attempts to question Christie's ethics.
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