John Ashcroft displays copies of The Record to defend Chris Christie's corruption-busting record: Getty Images Photo
WASHINGTON -- In a combative exchange with Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), former Attorney General John Ashcroft jumped to U.S. Attorney Chris Christie’s defense.

After Sanchez asked whether the selection process complied with the type of guidelines the Justice Department laid out yesterday, Ashcroft said that she was implying that Christie was a “law violator.”

“I really don’t believe that Mr. Christie is a law violator. His record as a prosecutor is an outstanding record,” Ashcroft said.

Ashcroft then held up two copies of Bergen Record headlines about Christie’s public corruption convictions and insinuated that there were partisan motivations behind today’s hearing.

“He’s made a major reputation attacking public corruption, and for this committee to attack him is inappropriate,” said Ashcroft. “Here’s Mr. Christie’s record in the newspaper. 140 convictions. No wonder New Jersey’s politicians are nervous.”

Ashcroft also reinforced that his monitorship is paid completely by private corporations, not taxpayers.

"This hearing costs far more in tax dollars than my monitorship will cost in tax dollars, because not a thin dime is public money," he said.

Ashcroft stayed through the first hour of the hearing before leaving to catch a flight to a speaking engagement.