By
MICHAEL POWELL
Published: October 10, 2013
...The 43-count grand jury indictment (click here) read like a primer in small-town abuse of power. It accused Sheriff Deborah Trout of hiring deputies without conducting proper background checks, and making employees sign loyalty oaths. Her deputies, the indictment charged, threatened one of their critics and manufactured fake police badges for a prominent donor to Gov. Chris Christie....
This is the same stuff that is occurring with Fort Lee. Fort Lee was a lousy situation that is probably connected with the development of land currently out of reach. I think someone was tired of waiting for the development given the state's employment deficit and high tax rate. There is no crime there.
I have my own theory of this entire intrigue, which is far less interesting than any exploitation otherwise.
Part of the Hunterdon issue is that the acting prosecutor was being replaced with a permanent county prosecutor. It was all happening at the same time and realizing the AG appoints county prosecutors it was normal for him to review the current cases pending as a transition was taking place. The AG would have briefed the incoming prosecutor.
July 2010 (click here)
Acting County Prosecutor Dermott O’Grady announces that the case against Trout and her staffers is under review by the state Attorney General’s Office Division of Criminal Justice and could be dismissed. In August, the AG’s Office takes charge of the case and on Aug. 23, Superior Court Judge Paul Armstrong agrees to dismiss the charges after Deputy Attorney General Christine Hoffman tells him that she had reviewed the case and found “legal and factual deficiencies” in the indictments. The same day, Governor Chris Christie names Anthony P. Kearns III as Hunterdon County Prosecutor to replace interim prosecutor O’Grady.
I know those stating they have a grievance against the Christie administration sincerely believe that, but, no one can overlook the fact the governor was a former US Attorney. He was also successful. I am sure he set certain standards for cases that came through the AG's office.
It comes down to how the state and county was spending their money. If prosecutions were costing more than they were going to achieve in severity of the crime the cases were tossed. That is SOP.
The practice of law is far different than what the average person views as justice. The injustice of civil suits is always painful, but, the reality often is there isn't much that can be done in the way of prosecution.
In the case of Hunterdon, most of the charges would be mitigated as superfluous in the proceedings of the pre-trial lawyering. Unless there was sincere crime committed and there seems to be none of that. The charges surround mischief, albeit, astounding mischief, but, it resolves down to abuse of power that amounted to nothing. The entire mess probably would have resulted in fines. The sheriff was wrong for the job. Just that simple.
I think the exploitation of that media in creating a circus achieved it's goal, didn't it? The people that were elected are now gone. That was the purpose, wasn't it?
Chris Christie is a Republican in a state where Democrats primarily rule. If the Democrats could prevent him from achieving his objectives they would do it. No different than what is occurring in the US House. The difference between the US House and the NJ Democrats is that US House is actually due to stupid rules and very insufficient leadership that prevent passage of important things like the national debt ceiling.
NJ Democrats are very savvy folks. I like them. They stand for good values and they fight the good fight, but, all this gossip is basically not going to achieve what they are looking for. They need to concentrate on improving employment, working with the federal government to move Sandy Aid along and find ways to reduce the high tax rate in NJ.
Impeachment of the Governor is most likely not going to happen. Mr. Wildstein is still the ultimate decision maker and even if the Governor thought attempting to push things along in Fort Lee was a good idea, that is nothing but hubris. Unless there are charges handed down, the idea impeachment is a possibility is also hubris.
The Democrats need to get to work on the tough issues while protecting the unions, pensions and cash reserves in the treasuries of the cities and towns. The Democrats have to do the hard work and bring the state better outcomes. That is what is important. The other issues are a matter of prosecutors sifting through what is crime and what is not. Some of this is politics and that is not a crime. I am not an expert and have no desire to be; but, as an amateur I think it best for everyone to move on and take care of the people of New Jersey.
There are people hurting in NJ. While this is all interesting and a distraction to their problems, it is not solving them.
Published: October 10, 2013
...The 43-count grand jury indictment (click here) read like a primer in small-town abuse of power. It accused Sheriff Deborah Trout of hiring deputies without conducting proper background checks, and making employees sign loyalty oaths. Her deputies, the indictment charged, threatened one of their critics and manufactured fake police badges for a prominent donor to Gov. Chris Christie....
This is the same stuff that is occurring with Fort Lee. Fort Lee was a lousy situation that is probably connected with the development of land currently out of reach. I think someone was tired of waiting for the development given the state's employment deficit and high tax rate. There is no crime there.
I have my own theory of this entire intrigue, which is far less interesting than any exploitation otherwise.
Part of the Hunterdon issue is that the acting prosecutor was being replaced with a permanent county prosecutor. It was all happening at the same time and realizing the AG appoints county prosecutors it was normal for him to review the current cases pending as a transition was taking place. The AG would have briefed the incoming prosecutor.
July 2010 (click here)
Acting County Prosecutor Dermott O’Grady announces that the case against Trout and her staffers is under review by the state Attorney General’s Office Division of Criminal Justice and could be dismissed. In August, the AG’s Office takes charge of the case and on Aug. 23, Superior Court Judge Paul Armstrong agrees to dismiss the charges after Deputy Attorney General Christine Hoffman tells him that she had reviewed the case and found “legal and factual deficiencies” in the indictments. The same day, Governor Chris Christie names Anthony P. Kearns III as Hunterdon County Prosecutor to replace interim prosecutor O’Grady.
I know those stating they have a grievance against the Christie administration sincerely believe that, but, no one can overlook the fact the governor was a former US Attorney. He was also successful. I am sure he set certain standards for cases that came through the AG's office.
It comes down to how the state and county was spending their money. If prosecutions were costing more than they were going to achieve in severity of the crime the cases were tossed. That is SOP.
The practice of law is far different than what the average person views as justice. The injustice of civil suits is always painful, but, the reality often is there isn't much that can be done in the way of prosecution.
In the case of Hunterdon, most of the charges would be mitigated as superfluous in the proceedings of the pre-trial lawyering. Unless there was sincere crime committed and there seems to be none of that. The charges surround mischief, albeit, astounding mischief, but, it resolves down to abuse of power that amounted to nothing. The entire mess probably would have resulted in fines. The sheriff was wrong for the job. Just that simple.
I think the exploitation of that media in creating a circus achieved it's goal, didn't it? The people that were elected are now gone. That was the purpose, wasn't it?
Chris Christie is a Republican in a state where Democrats primarily rule. If the Democrats could prevent him from achieving his objectives they would do it. No different than what is occurring in the US House. The difference between the US House and the NJ Democrats is that US House is actually due to stupid rules and very insufficient leadership that prevent passage of important things like the national debt ceiling.
NJ Democrats are very savvy folks. I like them. They stand for good values and they fight the good fight, but, all this gossip is basically not going to achieve what they are looking for. They need to concentrate on improving employment, working with the federal government to move Sandy Aid along and find ways to reduce the high tax rate in NJ.
Impeachment of the Governor is most likely not going to happen. Mr. Wildstein is still the ultimate decision maker and even if the Governor thought attempting to push things along in Fort Lee was a good idea, that is nothing but hubris. Unless there are charges handed down, the idea impeachment is a possibility is also hubris.
The Democrats need to get to work on the tough issues while protecting the unions, pensions and cash reserves in the treasuries of the cities and towns. The Democrats have to do the hard work and bring the state better outcomes. That is what is important. The other issues are a matter of prosecutors sifting through what is crime and what is not. Some of this is politics and that is not a crime. I am not an expert and have no desire to be; but, as an amateur I think it best for everyone to move on and take care of the people of New Jersey.
There are people hurting in NJ. While this is all interesting and a distraction to their problems, it is not solving them.
