Feds investigating Christie's use of Sandy relief funds

Feds investigating Christie's use of Sandy relief funds

January 13, 2014, 12:23 pm

By Rebecca Shabad

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/195196-report-feds-investigating-christies-use-of-sandy-funds

Federal officials are investigating New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's (R) use of Superstorm Sandy relief funds, according to a Democratic congressman in the state.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) announced Monday that the House and Urban Development Department’s inspector general will look into whether Christie improperly used the funds for a tourism campaign for the Jersey Shore.

“I commend the HUD Office of the Inspector General for investigating whether the state properly utilized taxpayer funds for this marketing campaign,” Pallone said in a statement Monday.

“Working with my New Jersey colleagues, we had to fight hard to get the Sandy aid package passed by assuring others in Congress the funding was desperately needed and would be spent responsibly. I also raised concerns that Governor Christie and his family appeared in taxpayer-funded advertisements during an election year.”

The investigation, which was first reported by CNN, doesn't appear to be connected to the bridge scandal plaguing Christie’s administration.

Auditors are investigating whether Christie improperly used any of the $25 million in Sandy relief funds to produce tourism ads highlighting the Jersey Shore that starred the governor and his family, Pallone said.

In August, Pallone asked in a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's inspector general to review how the governor distributed the funds.

“This was money that could have directly been used for Sandy recovery. And, as you know, many of my constituents still haven't gotten the money that is owed them to rebuild their homes or raise their homes or to help," Pallone told CNN on Sunday.

In his August letter, Pallone said he was concerned about how the firm for the marketing campaign was chosen. The selected firm charged $4.7 million, compared to a $2.5 million bid from a competitor. The winning firm featured Christie and his family in the advertisements, while the losing bidder did not plan to feature the governor.

In the lead-up to Christie’s reelection last year, Democrats criticized Christie for appearing in these ads, which were paid for with taxpayers’ dollars.

This news comes as Christie is dealing with a scheme some of his top aides orchestrated on the George Washington Bridge, which caused a four-day-long traffic jam last fall.

A panel from the New Jersey state legislature and the U.S. attorney’s office are investigating the lane closures.

HUD

James T. Lynn was the secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Note: Teresa Heinz Kerry is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and married to John F. Kerry.

John F. Kerry is married to Teresa Heinz Kerry, the secretary at the U.S. Department of State for the Barack Obama administration, and Helen R. Kanovsky was his chief of staff.

Helen R. Kanovsky was John F. Kerry’s chief of staff, and is the general counsel at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Barack Obama administration.

Carla A. Hills was the secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is a life trustee at the Urban Institute (think tank), and a board member for the International Crisis Group.

Sarah Rosen Wartell was the deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the EVP for the Center for American Progress, and is the president of the Urban Institute (think tank).

George Soros is a board member for the International Crisis Group, the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and was a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Urban Institute (think tank), the Center for American Progress, and the Robin Hood Foundation.

Richard C. Leone is a director at the Center for American Progress, and was the treasurer for the New Jersey state government.

Robin Hood Foundation raised money for the Hurricane Sandy relief.

Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund is a relief organization for Hurricane Sandy.

Mary Pat Christie is the chair for the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, and married to Christopher J. Christie.

Christopher J. Christie is married to Mary Pat Christie, and the New Jersey state government governor.