New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Faces New Criminal Probe
Geann Pineda | | Feb 06, 2015 07:41 AM EST |
(Photo : Reuters) New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and his administration are facing a criminal probe for allegedly dismissing indictments of the governor's political allies.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and his administration are now a subject of another federal criminal investigation.
The probe stemmed from former Hunterdon County Assistant Prosecutor Bennett Barlyn's accusations that he was fired for questioning the dismissal of cases against the political allies of the governor. Barlyn confirmed the ongoing probe.
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"It is true," Barlyn told ABC News, saying he was interviewed by federal authorities this week. "I also provided the investigators with names of people I thought could furnish firsthand information."
Barlyn was dismissed from the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office in September 2010. He had repeatedly said he was fired for objecting to the quashing of indictments against the county's sheriff and two subordinates -- all political allies of Christie.
The governor's office had earlier denied the accusations calling it "conspiratorial nonsense."
State officials have also denied Barlyn's allegations against Christie's administration, saying the decision to dismiss the indictments was within the jurisdiction of law-enforcement officials. They pointed out Barlyn has no case and doesn't have the right to sue under state law.
But the federal prosecutor's probe focuses on why Christie's then-attorney general Paula Dow dismissed the indictments.
Dow had defended her decision saying the cases were flawed and that Barlyn was fired for "legitimate business reasons".
In a February 2014 interview with ABC News' Jim Avila, Barlyn revealed all the evidence his office gathered during a two-year investigation was suddenly taken out and shipped to the attorney general's office in Trenton.
His suspicion intensified when the head of the investigating unit was taken off the case ahead of his dismissal.
In the same interview, Barlyn claimed he was fired for "political reasons", and that he was not given any explanation.
"I asked for one and was told that I wasn't entitled to an explanation," Barlyn said. "I gave up my access to the building. I returned home again completely in the dark although I had a feeling of what precipitated the dismissal."
Barlyn fears his dismissal could set a precedent to his colleagues. He said this may send a message that if they speak about anything irregular in the office, they will be punished.
Sources say this new investigation is still in the early stages.
New Jersey's U.S. attorney is also investigating the George Washington Bridge lane scandal that badly hurt Christie's political future.
TagsNew Jersey, Chris Christie
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