Christie disappointed with James' sentence; thought ex-mayor should serve more time
By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter
U.S. Attorney Chris Christie: Politicker file photo
NEWARK - U.S. Attorney Chris Christie rejoiced following the federal sentencing of former Newark Mayor Sharpe James today, but also acknowledged that a U.S. District Judge’s decision fell far short of what Christie and his prosecution team had sought.
He strove to focus on the positive.
"In seven weeks, Sharpe James will report to federal prison for one reason and one reason only: he is a criminal," Christie told reporters. "He is a federal felon."
Then he turned to U.S. District Judge William Martini’s imposition of a 27-month sentence on James instead of federal prosecutors’ suggestions of a 15-20 year penalty.
"Obviously we disagree with the judge’s decision," said Christie, who punctuated his support for his prosecutors when he headed off reporters’ questions with a statement of never being more proud of two prosecuting attorneys in seven years.
"I’m not going to get into a public debate with the judge," said Christie as reporters pelted him with questions concerning Martini’s repeated objections to what the judge said were "inflammatory" characterizations of the former Newark mayor.
"Judy Germano is very tough, she took shots throughout this trial that I, frankly, thought were unfair," said the U.S. Attorney, referring to Martini’s finger shaking on several occasions of prosecutor Judith Germano.
Christie said he intends to go to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals to try to make a case to get a stiffer sentence imposed than Martini’s.
The U.S. Attorney said he did not regret dropping the credit card charges his office initially brought against James.
In answer to another reporter's question, Christie said he asked for the 15-20 years for James because his office is required to ask for a guideline sentence - a guideline that Martini called too severe for this case.
Contributors
Wally Edge
Chris Christie’s refusal to have his picture taken with Rick Merkt at a Republican event in Summit was probably just the former federal ... >
Bob Torricelli
It's hard to not be concerned these days. We've all witnessed frustration with our institutions before but I never remember anything of this ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
Instead of borrowing trillions to waste on make-work governmental projects, stimulate the economy with tax cuts. >
Debbie Holtz
Score one for the Governor’s public relations team. For the last few weeks, they have been working overtime to fuel speculation Corzine was being ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
With the entrance of Chris Christie into the Republican gubernatorial primary, the GOP has greatly enhanced its chances of capturing the ... >
Rob Tornoe
Joey Novick
Hard to believe we have arrived at the last year of the first decade of the 21st century. Boy, seems like it was just yesterday that Bush was handed ... >
Juan Melli
It's actually come to this: A panel convened by the legislature of the State of New Jersey has concluded that discrimination is not good. Maybe ... >
Carla Katz
As it tends to, history seems to be repeating itself as 240 laid-off workers at Republic Windows and Doors in Chicago revive a decades old tactic -- ... >
Patricia Quattrocchi
Many columnists write a "year in review" or a "predictions" piece for the New Year, however I decided to refrain from going down ... >
Murray Sabrin
Yesterday President-elect Barack Obama outlined his American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan in a speech at George Mason University. Obama said we ... >
Hot Topics
| Politicker INTERACTIVE | |
 |
Lawmaker Profile Follow the funding of your representatives |
 |
270 to Win See how Obama got to the magic number |
Most Active Stories
- Healy and Stack and the late Glenn Cunningham
- Kyrillos: 'We need a leader like Chris Christie'
- Lonegan camp says they qualify for matching funds
- Reilly joins Codey staff
- Christie will run for Governor
- Merkt fights perceived Christie canonization in Passaic County
- Holt decides to run for assembly instead of state senate
- U.S. Rep. Adler assumes seat on financial services committee
- Corzine allies respond to Christie news
- Rule him out of District 36 Assembly run, says Scarpelli
- Correction: Weiner departure was not his own idea
- Torricelli on COAH
- Two N.J. super delegates go to Obama; Norcross backs Obama; key Clinton supporters endorse Obama
- At energy policy meeting, Rose fights with cabinet and walks away
- Sixteen Democrats are on Norcross' short list for Andrews House seat
- Jackson will be Corzine's new Chief of Staff
- Roughneen in court today on signature challenge
- Obama bundler says he lost $25 billion of N.J. pension funds
- Weinberg loses life savings in Madoff Ponzi scheme
- New Jersey's Most Powerful Law Firms
Recent Posts From Inside Edge
Quote of the Day
"I’m here to talk to people not pose for pictures with you." -- Former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie to Assemblyman Rick Merkt, his former running mate and now his rival in the race for the Republican nomination for Governor, according to Merkt.
Recent Press Releases
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Yudin may be waffling on word to GOP boss ― CHARLES STILE
The City Boss Becomes the Country Boss ― DICK BENFIELD...MUST READ
Ferriero's support a curse for Kasparian? ― CHARLES STILE...MUST READ
Trenton must stop thinking outside box― DOUG FORRESTER
Three's a crowd, but one man isn't a party― ALFRED DOBLIN
Newspaper Shuns Web, and Thrives― DAN JACOBSON
Murder charge for Prisco― ANGELO PRISCO
Healy: Have yourself a merry little Christmas with my CD― JERSEY JOURNAL
Time for BCDO to clean up its act ― CHARLES STILE
Syndicate
27 months to write his memoirs.
Gerry Louongo did 13 months for his crime and wrote a book to boot -- "Surviving Federal Prison Camp: An Informative and Helpful Guide for Prospective Inmates."
Landslide Victory for Sharpe that is.....
US attorney Chris Christie has to be fuming at this verdict. I mean 27 months compared to the 15 to 20 years that Christie was looking for on this case is a landslide victory for Sharpe. I don’t care how you look at it. Like I mentioned before on a comment, Mayor James has ALWAYS gotten away with it. And he just pulled off another one. And to think that the judge actually said that what Sharpe did was not hurt the citizens of Newark Now that’s a good one for the people of Newark. I truly believe that Mayor James was a good Mayor for Newark at one time. But what we all suspected all along was true, Sharpe did his cheat his people. Plain and simple. 27 months is a slap on the wrist. He will serve a few months and get out and be a hero to his followers. He will do his time and walk the streets of Newark like a proud brick city citizen that he is. And he will look good too doing it. Sharpe being Sharpe……. And Christie what an idiot you are for putting all your eggs in one basket and NOT pursing the credit card charges. NOW that’s the real crime that Sharpe committed. Just charge it to the City of Newark tax payers. Christie is the one who dropped the ball on this one and Sharpe has to be smiling away somewhere right now. Gap tooth and all. I could just see it.
Ashcroft next?
Once again, CChristie has proven that he's New Jersey's preeminent lightweight.
Run Chris Run!
27 MONTHS is a lot !
considering that Norcross still roams the street, preying on the public.
cc stern AND umdnj, ashcroft..includes but not limited to.
Keep an eye on the DOJ. There is plenty of time to correct the ills of a once proud institutution(DOJ) that brought the scales of justice to light for the world to see. Ashcroft, Gonzalez, Mukasey, Goodling...they will be studied in every law school in the country. Unfortunately for our country, we will have to learn from their mistakes. The bible is powerful. Under Oath is powerful. Read the transcript of Gonzalez testifying before Congress. Read the transcript of Ashcroft testifying before Congress. Read the transcript of Mukasey testifying before Congress. This case is wide open.
Either way it's a guilty verdict.
27 months or 27 years the fact remains James is a felon. He was found guilty and he's going to jail. I don't blame the prosecutors for the sentence. The fact that the judge was on record at the sentencing hearing saying things like he didn't want to hear about the defendant being "corrupt", after he was found guilty in a corruption trial, tells me the judge made up his mind well in advance of this hearing. Fact is the judge probably made up his mind about 15 minutes after the jury returned the guilty verdict. Either way it's yet another New Jersey politician being found guilty under Christie's watch. This state needs cleaning up and in the last 8 years only one person has made an honest attempt at doing it. And there is nothing anyone can say about Ashcroft, Gonzalez, or anyone else outside of this state that will change that fact.
Do alittle reasearch
View From Morris County
Christie didn't pursue the credit card fraud, and waste taxpayer money, because the credit card case would not have increased James's jail time by one day. Instead of being happy that this US Attorney did what others have failed to do (get the corrupt James), you choose to inject politics...what a shame.
sentencing
Just an observation, but the two prominent Republican that Christie convicted, Treffinger and Murphy were both sentenced to less time than James.
I think Christie is right.
Christie should quit and run for Governor.
"A society that puts equality . . . ahead of freedom will end up with neither." ~ Milton Friedman.
Treffinger and Murphy
Both of them took plea deals and did not take their case to trial. Generally it pays to admit your guilt early on.
Christie indulging in Selective Enforcement of Law
It is very surprising Christie/FED has not taken any action against the Gay Ex-Gov of New Jersey for installing his Mossad paramour Golan Cipel without valid work visa as Director of Home Land Security at a six figure salary. Pro Israeli Administration of NJ rather than prosecuting McGreevy to do jail time has rewarded this perpetual liar Gay with teaching assignment at Kean University, where he is teaching Ethics to the students. The Mossad Agent Golan Cipel fled to Israel without facing any criminal charges from the State of New Jersey or the Federal Government when the Gay affair of Jim was made public by Pro Israeli Main Stream Media of America.
Even no FED action against womanizer Governor for buying African American votes through their Churches by giving huge donations before the Governor’s election. Then no action against Corzine for having sexual relations with Labor Leader Carla Katz by paying her $6 million and getting her a scholarship by twisting the arms of Seaton Hall University.
Then Christie has failed to take any action against Zygmunt Wilf the lunatic friend of womanizer governor Corzine and owner of Minnesota Viking Football Team. Lunatic Wilf has blown up a Hill in Springfield right next to a Christian Church and facing our national monument Baltursal Golf Club to make Dram Luxury Condos rather a Monument of Corruption dedicated to NJ Democrats and especially to that bluff master Al Gore. Wilf has killed 100% trees, vegetation and wild life. This kind of whole sale massive and permanent Environmental Destruction no other US state as well as even the most corrupt countries in the world will ever allow.
It looks like Christie/FED believes in Selective Enforcement of Law in NJ and does not want to provoke the pro Israeli Lobby controlling New Jersey.
By sending an African American Sharp James to Jail and sparing the Pro Israeli Law makers who have committed bigger crimes than James, Christie is setting bad precedents.
www.savethehills9.blogspot.com