Tensions boil over between Christie and Cohen

By Matt Friedman | June 25th, 2009 - 12:34pm
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WASHINGTON – It took about an hour for today’s hearing to erupt into fireworks.  

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) told Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie that no companies that entered into DPAs turned down monitors because, as U.S. Attorney, he “made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.”

Christie, who has said that all the companies were given options and approved of the monitor selections, said that Cohen "was not in the room" for the deal with Zimmer and took offense at the Godfather-inspired comment.

“First of all, it’s an ethnically sensitive comment to an Italian-American,” said Christie.  “...I don’t appreciate the implications you’re making.”  

Cohen responded that he “had no idea” that Christie was Italian-American.   

Cohen then went on to question Christie about the email exchanges in which a lawyer for a company that entered into a DPA complained of high fees from the monitor, former Attorney General John Ashcroft.  Cohen asked why Christie did not intervene.

“I told him in my emails to go back, and I also told the Ashcroft Group to go back and resolve any differences thy have regarding fees without intervention from the office. If they did not, I would have intervened.”

Tags:

Cohen

Submitted by gorednj on June 25, 2009 - 11:50am.

Classic Democrat on a mission to smear Christie. Cryan and Corzine must be banging their meat heads against the wall as this guy and others are housed by Christie and the facts are the case.

Amazing Reporting

Submitted by gorednj on June 25, 2009 - 12:47pm.

Funny how Matt doesn't report that Congressman Cohen was able to get a $800,000 EARMARK for one of the CRIMINAL firms involved in the DPA. Talk about conflict of interest---Did this dope ever think of recusing himself today? Did Matt ever think of reporting this?

Cohen's slurrrrrr

Submitted by bergen_prince on June 25, 2009 - 1:23pm.

Leave it to Mr.Cohen to take after Italian-Americans. Even if he didn't know Chris Christie was of Italian-American heritage, does it make sense to use the Godfather reference. Is it OK to tlak about Jews in neagtive ways just as long as there isn't one in the room?

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