New Jersey's Governor Chris Christie is a favorite of many Orthodox and haredi voters, and he's viewed nationally as a blunt but honest politician. But what is he really?
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
Originally published at 10:10 pm 8-28-2012
New Jersey's Governor Chris Christie is a favorite of many Orthodox and haredi voters, and he's viewed nationally as a blunt but honest politician.
But what is he really?
In reality, Chris Christie is a craven, selfish man.
He was the US Attorney during the beginning of the sting operations that used Solomon Dwek as a cooperating witness.
Without any trouble, Dwek delivered proof that several New Jersey and Brooklyn haredi rabbis were actively laundering money through an illegal operation in Israel. Dwek personally laundered tens of thousands of dollars with each of them, but there was clear evidence that what Dwek laundered was just a small percentage of what these rabbis were laundering every year.
But when Chris Christie found out that all Dwek had given the government was evidence against rabbis, he wanted to close the operation and leave those rabbis unprosecuted.
Christie's unethical behavior is documented in the CNBC American Greed episode on The Jersey Sting, based on Josh Margolin's and Ted Sherman's excellent book of the same name.
But why?
Why would a US Attorney walk away from prosecuting multiple felonies against active money launderers?
Politics.
It isn't good politics in New Jersey to arrest and prosecute haredi rabbis.
Therefore, Mr. Law and Order Chris Christie did not want to do it.
But his staff convinced him that Dwek would deliver politicians, as well, and they put Christie in a position where it would have been very difficult to pull the plug on the operation.
And then Christie left the US Attorney's position to – run for governor.
His temporary replacement kept the operation going and, in fact, ramped it up.
In the end, there were dozens of arrests and guilty pleas. Corrupt politicians were stripped of power.
And the rabbis?
All have pleaded guilty.