>>> SPOILING CHRIS CHRISTIE'
ADMINISTRATION
>> PSE&G, SERVING CUSTOMERS,
STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY, AND INVESTING IN NE
JERSEY'S FUTURE.
PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED B
NEW JERSEY "NEW JERSEY BUSINESS"
MAGAZINE, THE MAGAZINE OF TH
NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION.
REPORTING TO EXECUTIVES AN
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 2
COUNTIES FOR THE GARDEN STAT
SINCE 1954
>>> DAWN ZIMMER LEVELS A NEW
ALLEGATION AGAINST THE CHRISTI
ADMINISTRATION
THE GOVERNOR IGNORES ALL THE
CHATTER AND GIVES A STRAIGHT-U
SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS
THE LEGISLATURE MERGES ITS TWO
INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEES
WELCOME TO "REPORTER
ROUNDTABLE," I'M MICHAEL ARON AT
THE NJTV STATE HOUSE IN TRENTON.
WITH US, FOUR REPORTERS ON THE
FRONT LINE OF THE STORY, KEVIN
McCARDLE OF TOWN SQUARE MEDI
AND NEW JERSEY 101.5 RADIO
TERRENCE PP -- TERRENCE DOPP O
BLAB NEWS, MICHAEL SIMON OFS O
THE IS "-- SIMONS OF THE "ASBURY
PARK PRESS."
DID GOVERNOR CHRISTIE'
ADMINISTRATION THREAT BACKLASH
THAT WAS THE ACCUSATION LAST
WEEKEND.
ON TUESDAY, THE GOVERNMENT
ENGULFED IN A SECOND
CONTROVERSY, STOOD AND DELIVERED
HIS SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS
UNLIKE IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE
SPEECH THE WEEK BEFORE, HE MAD
NO REFERENCE TO WHAT ONE ANALYST
CALLED THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM,
THE POINT WE EXPLORED IN
GATHERING POST SPEECH REACTION
WERE YOU SURPRISED THAT HE
DIDN'T ALLUDE TO THE CRISIS HE'S
FACING
>> I'M NOT SURPRISED
THERE'S NO NEED TO ALLUDE TO IT.
EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTRY AND THE
WORLD KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON IN
THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
>> HOW EASY WILL IT BE TO RIDE
OUT THE MEDIA STORM?
>> I THINK HE TOOK
RESPONSIBILITY, HE TERMINATED
COUPLE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T TEL
HIM THE TRUTH.
HE'S BEEN FRANK AND TOOK HEAD-ON
RESPONSIBILITY
UNLIKE PERHAPS SOME OTHE
FIGURES YOU MIGHT CONTRAST HIM
TO
>> WHO ARE YOU THINKING OF
>> SOME NATIONAL FIGURES
>> I SAW ON THE "TODAY" SHOW
"MEET THE PRESS," I'VE GOT
NOTHING TO SAY BASICALLY
I DON'T WANT TO GO ON THOS
SHOWS.
"GOOD MORNING AMERICA.
YOU KNOW, YOU NAME IT, "WALL
STREET JOURNAL," NEW YORK TIMES.
AND THE -- AND THERE'S NOTHING
MORE TO SAY.
EVERYTHING'S SAID I THINK -- NOW
THE INVESTIGATION, HOPEFULLY A
FAIR ONE, WILL TAKE PLACE.
WE'LL FIND OUT -- FIND OUT THE
TRUTH.
>> KEVIN, WHERE ARE WE IN THIS
SCANDAL?
>> IT CONTINUES TO UNRAVEL AS WE
KNOW
THURSDAY AFTERNOON IT CAME T
LIGHT THAT THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE SUBPOENAED THE STAT
COMMITTEE, REPUBLICAN STAT
COMMITTEE AND ALSO ISSUE
SUBPOENAS REGARDING -- TO TH
CHRISTIE FOR GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN
BUT MARK SHERIDAN, THE ATTORNE
FOR THE CHRISTIE FOR GOVERNO
CAMPAIGN SAID CLEARLY ALL TH
DOCUMENTS HAD TO DO WITH THE
GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE ACCES
LANE CLOSURES.
DIDN'T SAY THEY HAD ANYTHING T
DO WITH THE DAWN ZIMME
ALLEGATIONSES.
WE HAVE UNTIL FEBRUARY 23rd FO
THE SUBPOENAS TO BE ISSUED
THE ONES ISSUED BY THE
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE NOW FEBRUARY 5th TO FIND
OUT OR -- I DON'T KNOW THA
WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT THE U.S.
ATTORNEY GETS BACK
IT TONS UNRAVEL.
THERE'S TOO MANY QUESTIONS, BU
STILL HAVE YET TO BE ANSWERED.
YOU KNOW, IT'S WHAT WE'RE GOIN
TO BE DOING FOR TH
UNFORESEEABLE FUTURE FOR SURE.
>> DARRELL, HOW DO YOU SEE WHERE
WE ARE AT THE SNOEMT
>> I THINK IT'S CLEAR -- AT TH
MOMENT
>> I THINK IT'S CLEAR IT'S NOT
STOPPING ANY TIME SOON
EACH TIME THERE'S A LULL, IT
RAMPS BACK UP AGAIN.
I THINK AS KEVIN SAID WE'LL BE
DEALING WITH THIS FOR A LONG
TIME
I THINK YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE OF
ISSUES HERE.
THESE -- AS KEVIN SAID, TH
SUBPOENA WAS JUST FOR DOCUMENT
ON THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE.
WE DO KNOW THE U.S. ATTORNEY I
INTERESTED IN THE HOBOKEN CASE
AS WELL.
>> WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE DAWN
ZIMMER SAID THAT SHE SPOKE T
PEOPLE IN THE -- IN THE U.S.
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE LAST SUNDAY,
AND THOSE PEOPLE -- PEOPLE WHO
SHE SUPPOSEDLY TOLD THIS ALL T
ALSO SAY THEY HAVE BEE
INTERVIEWED BY THE FBI
>> BY THE FBI.
YEAH
EXACTLY.
>> NOW WE KNOW IT --
>> EXACTLY
WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING
AT LEAST I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING
FIRSTHAND THAT THEY'VE BEE
THERE.
THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS THAT THE
FBI HAS QUESTIONED PEOPLE WH
WOULD KNOW OR WHO ZIMMER SAY
SHE TOLD BACK WHEN THE ALLEGED
THREATS WERE MADE.
>> IT'S A TWO-FRONT WAR NOW.
IF YOU'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE, O
EITHER SIDE OF IT, HOW DO YO
SEE WHERE THINGS STAND
>> AS DAMAGING AS THE BRIDGE
THING, THE HOBOKEN ONE I
POTENTIALLY WORSE.
IN PART BECAUSE THE WAY THAT
DAWN ZIMMER TELLS THE STORI, I
MORE DIRECTLY IMPLICATES
GOVERNOR CHRISTIE.
WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING THA
WAS SAID TO THE MAYOR OF HOBOKEN
ALONG THE WAY.
SHE TALKED ABOUT THIS MEETIN
THAT SHE HAD WITH THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR IN MAY AND -- AND HER
VERSION OF WHAT HAPPENED THERE
SHE TALKED ABOUT SIMILAR MESSAGE
SHE SAYS SHE GOT FROM THE DC
COMMISSIONER CONSTABLE
SHE ALSO LADDED IN THE HEAD OF
THE SANDY ROVER OFFICE
THREE PEOPLE WHO SHE SAID HA
GIVEN HER MESSAGES
WHAT INTERESTS SUBCOMMITTE
THERE'S THIS APRIL LETTER WHER
SHE WROTE TO THE GOVERNOR AN
MAKES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN
YOU KNOW, IT'S -- I THINK TH
WAY SHE WORDED IT WAS, YOU KNO
OTHER OTHER COMMUNITIES AREN'T
BEING ASKED TO TIE DEVELOPMENT
TO SANDY FUNDS
AND THAT COMES BEFORE ANY OF
THOSE MEETINGS THAT SHE TALKED
ABOUT IN THOSE TELEVISIO
INTERVIEWS
SO WHAT WE KNOW OF WHAT DAWN
ZIMMER SAID AT THIS POINT, W
STILL DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY SH
THINKS THAT THAT PRESSURE BEGA
IN THE FIRST PLACE
SO THIS IS A STORY PARTICULARL
IF WE'RE ON A TIMETABLE WHERE WE
WAIT FOR THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE TO COMPLETE ITS
INVESTIGATION, THAT IT'S GOING
TO TAKE A WHILE, WHICH I
PROBABLY NOT WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE WANTS TO HEAR
>> TERRY, WHERE DO YOU SEE IT AT
THE MOMENT
>> AT THE MOMENT, I THINK IT'S
GOING TO KEEP GOING IN THE SOR
OF FITS AND STARTS BECAUSE I
YOU LOOK, IT'S LIKE, WELL, THERE
ARE MOMENTS OF CRAZY EXCITEMENT,
THEN A COUPLE OF DAY REST.
THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER FRON
OPENS UP
I THINK IT'S GOING TO GO IN FITS
AND STARTS
THE HOBOKEN ISSUE IS INTERESTING
TO SEE YOU THIS DEVELOPS
I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE MORE OF
A SENSE OF BEWONDERMENT AMON
SOME PEOPLE AT WHAT'S HAPPENIN
IN HOBOKEN
AND TO SEE HOW THAT FULL
DEVELOPS
I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WILL
KNOW THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE
>> DO YOU AGREE WITH MIKE THAT
HOBOKEN IS POTENTIALLY MOR
SERIOUS THAN THE GEORG
WASHINGTON BRIDGE?
SOMETHING I'M NOT SURE I AGREE
WITH IF.
>> -- AGREE WITH
>> THE REASON IT'S POTENTIALLY
MORE SERIOUS FOR THE GOVERNOR IS
NOT EVEN AS MUCH I'M NOT -- I'
NOT A LAWYER SO I'M NOT GOING TO
GET INTO THE SORT OF CRIMINA
ASPECTS OF IT.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT PURELY FROM
POLITICAL ASPECT, THERE'S SORT
OF THIS NEBULOUS IDEA THAT
SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE GONE OUT ON
THAT BRIDGE.
WE DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT I
IS
WE MAY OR MAY NOT EVER HAVE
SMOKING GUN DIRECTLY TO TH
GOVERNOR
HERE YOU HAVE A MAYOR STANDING
UP SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, TH
ADMINISTRATION SAID ON HIS
BEHALF THEY PRESSURED ME INT
DEVELOPING A PROJECT -
>> THAT IT IMPLICATES TH
GOVERNOR MORE DIRECTLY THAN TH
BRIDGE THING -
>> YES, I DO
IT'S ALSO FROM A PUBLI
PERSPECTIVE STANDPOINT
IT'S EASIER FOR PEOPLE T
UNDERSTAND
IT'S NOT NEBULOUS.
IT'S A CONCRETE DEVELOPMENT.
POLITICALLY SPEAKING DISH.
>> THEY'RE BOTH PRETTY EASY TO
UNDERSTAND
BUT THEY'RE -- THERE'S THI
NOTION THAT WHAT HAPPENED IN
HOBOKEN IS POLITICS AS USUAL
WHEREAS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE
BRIDGE IS -- IS EXCESSIVE.
ANY OF YOU WANT TO SPEAK T
THAT
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THE REASO
WHY IN MY OPINION THE HOBOKE
SITUATION COULD BE A BIT MOR
SERIOUS TO THE GOVERNOR HIMSEL
IS THESE ARE FEDERAL FUNDS
THESE ARE VOTED ON BY LAWMAKER
IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
IT COULD BE MISUSE OF FEDERA
FUNDS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE
NOTE THAT ON MONDAY AT A MARTI
LUTHER KING DAY EVENT I THINK IN
UNION BEACH, THE LIEUTENAN
GOVERNOR COULD NOT HAVE BEEN
MORE ADAMANT IN DENYING MAYO
ZIMMER'S CHARGE.
THAT IS ONE ASPECT OF IT
NOW YOU'RE MESSING WITH TH
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -
>> COMMISSIONER CONSTABLE IFFO
CAMERA BUT PUTTING OUT A -- IF
NOT ON CAMERA BUT PUTTING OUT
COUPLE OF STATEMENT.
>> RIGHT
THE GEORGE WASHINGTON THING
THINK IS -- ON FOR LACK OF A
BETTER PHRASE -- SEXIER THAN THE
OTHER.
THAT'S NOT THE BIGGEST IN TH
REGION OR COUNTRY -- IT'S TH
BUSIEST BRIDGE IN THE WORLD.
SO PEOPLE ARE JUST STUNNED A
THE ABJECT STUPIDITY THAT IT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN CLOSED FOR THE
REASON IT WAS.
>> ON THAT FRONT, I THINK TH
SANDY THING TOUCHES PEOPLE MORE.
EVERYBODY KNOWS WE GOT KILLED IN
SANDY.
EVEN THOUGH THESE POOLS MONE
HAVE BEEN IN THIS WHOLE THING,
WHEN YOU HEAR SOMEBODY SAY WE'RE
NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU MONEY YO
NEED TO REBUILD AFTER SAND
UNLESS YOU DO WHAT WE TELL YOU
I THINK THAT RESONATES WIT
PEOPLE
ESPECIALLY IN COUNTY WHERE
PEOPLE GOT HAMMERED BY THIS.
ON ONE HAND THEY LOOK AND SAY,
OH, TRAFFIC UP IN FT. LEE EVER
DAY.
THIS ISN'T A BIG DEAL.
THE OTHER THING, WOW, THIS GUY
CAN'T REBUILD HIS HOUSE OR
BUSINESS BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR'
PLAYING POLITICS
IT'S MORE COMPLICATED AS WE'VE
COME TO FIND OUT
BUT THAT'S THE MESSAGE THA
COMES OUT OF THIS.
I THINK THAT RESONATES
>> ANOTHER REASON WH
POLITICALLY SPEAKING, NO
LEGALLY AGAIN, THE HOBOKEN
SITUATION COULD BE MORE SERIOU
FOR THE GOVERNOR IS THAT -- IN
HOBOKEN, TWO OF THE THRE
PREVIOUS MAYORS HAD GONE TO JAIL
FOR CORRUPTION
ONE OF THEM EXTREMELY PUBLICLY
CAMERANO
HERE YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHER
THE ACCUSATION IS YOU HAVE A
GOVERNOR WHO CAME IN TO OFFICE
PLEDGING TO TURN THING UPSID
DOWN, INVOLVED IN AN ALLEGATIO
OF CORRUPTION AND HOLDING MONE
HOSTAGE IN HOBOKEN
IN HUDSON COUNTY
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SORT OF
SHIFT.
EVERYONE KNOWS IT'S AN EASIE
ISSUE FOR EVERYONE TO LATCH ON
TO THAN HEY, PEOPLE GOT STUCK IN
A TRAFFIC JAM.
MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIED TO
THE GOVERNOR
>> AND ON THE POLITICAL SIDE,
LOT OF THE GOVERNORS' REPUTATION
WAS BUILT ON SANDY
AND HOW HE RESPONDED TO IT
SO IT WOULD BE PERSON FOR HI
THIS THIS NOT STICK AND THEN
BECOME PART OF THAT STORY WHIC
IS, YEAH, HE DID A GREAT JOB
WITH THE HURRICANE AND THEN HE
BROWBEAT CONGRESS AND THEN DID
THIS WITH THE MONEY.
WE HAVE NO PROOF THAT ANY OF
THAT HAPPENED --
>> USED IT FOR HIS OWN POLITICAL
GAIN -
>> EXACTLY
THERE'S NO PROOF ANY OF THAT HAS
HAPPENED AT THIS POINT
BUT IF IT BECOMES WHAT PEOPL
TAKE AWAY FROM THIS, THAT'S BA
POLITICALLY.
>> HOW IS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFIC
DEALING WITH ALL OF THIS
HOW -- WHAT POSTURE ARE THEY
TAKING
WHAT STRATEGY ARE THEY
SUGGESTING OR REVEALING?
>> THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS I'V
SEEN
ONE IS VERY MUCH A DUCK AN
COUGH.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD -
DUCK AND COVER
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD THE
SAME EXPERIENCE.
ON THE PHONE, NOBODY WANT TO SAY
A WORD ABOUT ANYTHING.
MINOR, WHAT TIME IS, IT I'M NO
TELLING YOU ANYTHING
>> GOOD, IT'S NOT JUST ME.
>> I CALLED THE OTHER DAY FOR
BASIC QUESTION
IT WAS LIKE, "WE CAN'T HELP YO
NOW.
THE OTHER I THINK -- WHAT YOU'VE
SEEN OUT THERE IS AN ATTEMPT NOT
AS MUCH FROM THE GOVERNOR'
OFFICE THOUGH THEY HAVE DONE IT,
AS WELL, IS THE ATTEMPT TO PUS
BACK ON THE PARTISAN ATTAC
FRONT.
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE CAME OUT
WITH A SCATHING, SCATHIN
RESPONSE THAT ATTACKED MSNBCMENT
AND YOU'VE SEEN AROUND THE
COUNTRY KIND -- MSNBC.
AND YOU'VE SEEN AROUND THE
COUNTRY KIND OF SYMPATHETI
FIGURES.
SOME OF THE MEDIA SAYING WE'VE
GONE OVERBOARD, THIS IS GETTIN
RIDICULOUS
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRAFFIC AT A
BRIDGE HERE.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT LIVE
LOST AND THINGS LIKE IT.
YOU'VE SEEN THE PUSH BAC
AGAINST THAT -- THAT DOG PILE.
>> ANYBODY ELSE SEE ANYTHING I
WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE -- OR
THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF IS DOING?
>> A LITTLE BIT OF A CIRCLE TH
WAGON MENTALITY, I WOULD SAY
ALL QUIET ON THAT WESTERN FRONT.
AND TRYING TO PIT IT BEHIND HIM.
>> AND IN HIS SPEECH ON TUESDAY,
SECOND INAUGURAL, I WENT TO TH
WAR MEMORIAL THINKING WILL HE OR
WON'T HE BRING IT UP
AND THEN WHEN HE DIDN'T BRING IT
UP, I THOUGHT OF COURSE HE'S NOT
GOING BRING IT UP.
THERE'S THE RED BOOK THAT WE ALL
USED TO LIVE BY.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S STILL
PUBLISHED BUT IT USED TO BE TH
BIBLE OF NEW JERSEY STAT
GOVERNMENT
AND IT CARRIES THE MOST RECENT
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
I THOUGHT, CHRISTIE ISN'T GOIN
TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT A SCANDA
THAT WOULD FIND ITS WAY INTO THE
RED BOOK FOR THE NEXT 20 OR 30
YEARS WHEN THE SCANDAL COULD ALL
EVAPORATE IN THREE WEEKS' TIME
SO WE LOOKED FOR SOMETHING THA
HE DID SAY IN THE SPEECH THA
WOULD BE INTERESTING
HERE, LET'S TRY THIS ONE
>> TODAY, I THANK ALL THOSE WH
HAVE ONCE AGAIN PLACED THEIR
FAITH AND TRUST IN ME, AND I
MAKE THIS PROM ICE -- I WILL NOT
LET UP
I WILL INSIST WE WORK TOGETHER
AND I WILL MAKE THIS GOVERNMEN
TRULY WORK FOR THOSE WHO PAY FOR
IT
>> WAS HE SAYING THAT -- H
WOULD PROVIDE GOVERNMENT FOR THE
WEALTHY AND NOT FOR TH
FREELOADERS OR THE NEEDY
DEPENDENT ON GOVERNMENT, WHO
AREN'T PAYING FOR IT
WHAT WAS HE TRYING TO SAY THERE?
>> WOW
>> YOU GUYS INTERPRET HIS WORD
ALL THE TIME
WHAT WAS HE SAYING
>> I THINK GIVE THE GUY TH
BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT
I THINK HE WAS JUST TRYING T
CREATE WAY WAY FOR -- GIVE
EVERYONE A BUY-IN TO THE
GOVERNMENT
MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK
>> HE SAID LATER, I'M NOT GOIN
TO TAX THE WEALTHY THE WAY -- HE
IMPLIED THE WAY DEBLASIO IN NE
YORK IS DOING.
>> RIGHT
BUT I MEAN, I'M NOT READY TO
BLAST HIM, AS THAT BEING A SOR
OF DOG WHISTLE FOR, YOU KNOW
GOVERNMENT FORMED BY THE
HEALTHY.
I WAS TRYING TO CONVINCE THE
AVERAGE PERSON, HEY, THIS IS
YOUR GOVERNMENT.
>> EVERYONE AGREED
>> AGREED.
AGAIN THE BACKDROP OF THE BRIDGE
GATE SITUATION AND THE
ALLEGATIONS OUT OF HOBOKEN
LISTEN TO IT DIFFERENTLY
THE ONE THING -- AGAIN, I DON'
KNOW, AND WE'RE ALL CLEARLY GOOD
AT PARSING AND CAPTURING WHA
WE'RE SAYING
WHEN HE SAID WE HAVE PUT
PARTISAN POLITICS ASIDE ON THE
ISSUES IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE
CLEARLY WHAT'S GOING ON IN
BRIDGE GATE IS PARTISAN, BUT T
ME I WAS LIKE, IF HE SAYING THAT
THAT ISSUE'S NOT IMPORTANT
SO I'M NOT REALLY WORRIED ABOU
THE PARTISANSHIP GOING ON THERE.
PROBABLY NOT
MAYBE SO
I DON'T KNOW
>> ON THAT VERY MORNING OF HIS
SECOND INAUGURAL, SENATE
MAJORITY AND ASSEMBLY MAJORITY
ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WOULD MERG
THE TWO COMMITTEES INVESTIGATING
ALL OF THIS INTO -- AT LEAST
INVESTIGATING THE BRIDGE
SCANDAL.
MERGE THE TWO COMMITTEES TO ONE.
AS MANY PEOPLE AND EDITORIAL
WRITERS HAVE BEEN CALLING FO
FOR A WEEK OR TEN DAYS
BUT THE TIMING WAS -- A LITTLE
STRANGE.
AN HOUR BEFORE HIS SPEECH, THE
ANNOUNCE THIS -- I WONDER IF
THEY WERE DELIBERATELY TRYING TO
STEP ON HIS WAY.
I ASKED FORMER GOVERNOR DICK
CODY THAT QUESTION THIS WEEK
HE DIDN'T THINK SO
HE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST, YO
KNOW, THEY FINALLY GOT I
TOGETHER TO DO WHAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY SHOULD HAV
DONE THE FIRST TIME DID.
ANYBODIELS HAVE THAT THOUGHT
THAT THIS -- ANYBODY ELSE HAVE
THAT THOUGHT
THAT THIS WAS POLITICA
MISCHIEF
>> IT MAY HAVE BEEN, BUT I THINK
THERE'S A VERY, VERY BIG FEVER
INSIDE DEMOCRATIC CIRCLE THAT'
THEY'RE GOING TO BLOW THIS
THAT GOT SOMETHING AND DON'T
WANT TO TRY IT UP AS WE'VE SEE
THEM DO ON OTHER THINGS IN THE
PAST
SO I THINK THEY WERE IN A HURR
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY SORT OF
QUELLED THIS DUAL PATH THAT WA
GOING OFF IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
--
>> I SPOKE TO STEVE SWEENEY THAT
DAY.
HE -- HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT H
HAD HEARD THE CRITICISM OF THE
2003 COMMITTEES.
AND YET, IF YOU HAVE TWO
COMMITTEES AND SAY FOR
ARGUMENT'S SAKE, BRIDGETTE KELLY
GOES BEFORE ONE COMMITTEE -- I
YOU HAVE A SECOND COMMITTEE YO
HAVE A SECOND SHOT AT THE APPL
BASED ON WHAT SHE TOLD THE FIRST
COMMITTEE.
SO MAYBE THEY UNDERCUT THE
INVESTIGATION POTENCY OF THE
EFFORT BY GOING TO ONE
COMMUNITY.
>> THE DAY THAT IT WAS -- THAT
IT HAPPENED, THAT THE TW
COMMITTEES CAME OUT, I GOT A
TELLING FOREIGN EXCHANGE A
DEMOCRAT WHO SAID, "DID WE JUS
FIND A WAY TO BLOW THIS?
SO I THINK THERE WAS SOM
INTERNAL STRIFE GOING ON THAT WE
NEED TO REIGN THIS IN A BIT.
>> YEAH.
RAINING -- I THINK THERE WAS
SOME CONCERN AMONG SOME IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT YOU HAVE
TWO COMMITTEES -- LIKE, WELL
WHO SUBPOENAS WHO?
WHO GETS TESTIMONY FROM WHO?
DO WE SHARE DOCUMENTS?
YOU KNOW, THERE'S -- DO WE DO IT
AS IF WE ARE BOTH RUNNING TW
COMPLETELY SEPARATE OR DO WE
SORT OF COORDINATE -
>> CRIPPLING OURSELVES
>> THE FEELING IS YOU HAVE EIGHT
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS, FOUR SENATORS,
SO YOU HAVE A PRETTY GOO
REPUTATION PROPORTIONALLY FROM
BOTH HOUSES.
YOU SHARE WHAT'S PREVIOUSLY BEEN
UNEARTHED IN EITHER HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, YOUR A LITTLE BIT MORE
COORDINATED.
MAYBE IT YOU DON'T GET A SECON
SHOT AT THE APPLE AS YOU PUT IT,
YOU STILL GET A BETTER FIRST
SHOT
>> HAVE THE NAMES COME OUT
>> NO.
NOT YET.
>> MONDAY IS THE VOTE.
I THINK IT AOL -- I THINK IT'S
GOOD FOR THE TAXPAYERS WHO PAY
FOR THE GOVERNMENT THAT THERE'
ONE SPECIAL COUNCIL AS OPPOSED
TO TWO BECAUSE THAT BILL I
GOING TO PROBABLY GET PRETTY
LARGE PRETTY QUICK
WHEN THEY VOTE MONDAY, AND
GRANDSON WE'LL FIND OUT TH
COMMITTEE MEMBERS MONDAY, BUT
THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING T
WATCH HOW THE REPUBLICAN
APPROACH THIS DEBATE BECAUSE THE
FIRST TIME WHEN THE VOTES WERE
ANONYMOUS IN EITHER HOUSE, THA
WAS BEFORE THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
HAD TAKEN A NEW MORE AGGRESSIV
TAX ABOUT QUESTIONING TH
MOTIVATIONS BEHIND A LOT OF TH
THIS
SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO
WATCH.
>> I KNOW THAT THERE -- THER
WERE COMPLAINTS IN THE
LEGISLATURE THAT MAINLY FROM
JOHN BROWN AND FELLO
REPUBLICANS THAT THE DEMOCRATS
HAVE HIJACKED THE INVESTIGATION.
THAT WIZZIES IN KEY'S GOING TO
RUN IT -- WISNEFSKIE IS GOING TO
RUN IT LIKE A DICTATOR
HAS THE GOVERNMENT STEPPED UP?
>> I THINK THAT WHEN THE MOR
THAN STORY ON HOBOKEN CAME OUT
THAT AT THAT POINT, THEY -
SURE, THEY BEGAN ON THE HOBOKE
PART AT FIRST, BUT THEN THEY
ALSO HAD OUT A RELEASE
CRITICIZING SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT WISNEFSKI HAD SAID, WHICH
IS PART OF WHAT YOU HEARD TH
PREVIOUS SPEAKER AND THE
QUESTIONS, PROBABLY WHY IT'S
WISE TO KEEP THIS FOCUSED ON THE
BRIDGE AND LEAVE HOBOKEN STUFF
TO OTHER AUTHORITIES
AND I THINK AT FIRST, TH
COMMENTS IN DEMOCRATS WERE
WELL, MAYBE WE HAVE TO GO THERE.
AND THEY'VE CHANGED DIRECTION --
>> REALLY?
THEY'RE GOING STAY WITH TH
BRIDGE AND NOT GO OVER TO HO
BROKEN
>> UNDERSTAND IMMEDIATELY.
>> NOT IMMEDIATELY
ASSEMBLYMAN WISNEFSKI TALKED
ABOUT THE 1-MEMBER PANEL AND
ASKED ABOUT THE HOBOKEN MAYOR'
ALLEGATIONS AND SAID IT WOULD BE
PREMATURE TO DO NOW THAT NOW
WITH REGARD TO THE MILLSTACK AND
BITE AT THE APPLE ARGUMENT,
THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.
IT'S CRITICAL, ACTUALLY, THA
THIS PANEL IS STAFFED WITH THE
BEST AND BRIGHTEST YOU CAN HAV
BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED A SECON
BITE AT THE APPLE.
THERE'S NO TIME CLOCK.
YOU CAN KEEP ASKING QUESTION
UNTIL ONE OF THE CHAIRS GAVELS
AT CLOSING
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WEE
ASKING
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TIME THE
CLOCK SAYS
YOU WEEP ASKING.
>> THEN CALL HIM BACK, TOO
>> YEP
>> CALL HIM BACK
>> YEAH.
>> THERE ARE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE
MOURNING WHAT HAS BECOME O
THEIR HERO
THOSE WHO THOUGHT CHRIS CHRISTIE
WAS IN LINE TO BE THE -- A
LEAST THE FRONT-RUNNER FOR THE
2016 REPUBLICAN NOMINATION ARE
SERIOUSLY CONCERNED THAT HE'
WOUNDED NOW.
LET'S -- LET'S HEAR FORMER
GOVERNOR TOM CANE ONE MORE TIME.
>> THIS GOVERNMENT IS -- THI
GOVERNMENT CAN GROW.
AND I'D LIKE TO RUN FO
PRESIDENT, BUT -- WHETHER OR NOT
I DON'T KNOW BUT I WOULD LIK
TO
>> YOU'D LIKE TO SEE HIM RUN
>> I WOULD
I THINK HE'S GOT A LOT IT OFFE
THE COUNTRY, I DO.
>> DO YOU SENSE THIS, THAT THERE
ARE PEOPLE WHO THINK AS TOM CANE
SAID HE HAS A LOT IT OFFER THE
COUNTRY AND NOW HE'S DAMAGED
GOODS?
>> THAT'S ONE WAY.
AND THERE'S ANOTHER WAY IN I
YOU TALK TO THE POLITICA
SCIENCES AND ACADEMICS
ONE OF THE ALTERNATE THEORIE
GOING AROUND IS THAT THIS COUL
ACTUALLY -- IF CHRIS CHRISTI
HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN MALIGNE
BY THE FAR RIGHT OF HIS OW
PARTY, THIS COULD ACTUALLY BUY
HIM CREDIBILITY IN A REPUBLICA
PRIMARY IN TERMS OF JUST PEOPL
SAYING, PEOPLE IN IOWA AND
PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IN NEBRASK
SAYING, "WAIT, THIS IS TRAFFIC
AT A BRIDGE.
SOME IS NOT SOMETHING WE
NECESSARILY GET.
>> IT COULD BE BACKLASH?
>> YEAH.
BECAUSE HERE'S A GUY WHO WAS
CRITICIZED FOR HIS COOPERATION
WITH THE PRESIDENT AND WIT
DEMOCRATS.
YOU IN BEING MALIGNED BAY TH
"DEMOCRATIC MEDIA" AND LIBERAL
MEDIA.
THERE'S A THOUGHT THAT IT COUL
BUY HIM CREDIBILITY WITH A
CERTAIN SEGMENT.
HIS --
>> MY ENMOOE IS MY ENEMY, MY
FRIEND -- ENEMY IS MY ENEMY, M
FRIEND IS MY FRIEND.
A QUOTE THAT'S BEEN KICKED
AROUND
>> THERE'S SO MUCH COMMENTAR
GOING ON AT THE MOMENT
SOMEBODY SAID THAT HE THINKS
CHRIS CHRISTIE'S ROLE MODEL IN
ALL OF THIS IS BILL CLINTON.
YOU JUST -- YOU JUST KEE
SLOGGING THROUGH WHATEVER'
THROWN AT YOU.
YOU STAY UPRIGHT, AND YOU STAY
TOUGH.
>> THERE'S CERTAINLY PRECEDENT
I MEAN, CERTAINLY PRECEDENT FO
PEOPLE EMERGING ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE SCANDALS
AND SUCCEEDING
I MEAN, BILL CLINTON'S THE MOS
POPULAR DEMOCRAT IN THE COUNTR
NOW.
THERE WAS A POINT WHEN YOU
DIDN'T THINK HE WOULD GE
THROUGH THAT -- THROUGH THAT
ELECTION
AND SO I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY
RIGHT.
YOU LOOK AND SAY, LOOK, THIS GUY
BECAME THE PRESIDENT AND NOW
HE'S LIONIZED IN THE PARTY
I DON'T THINK HIS OBITUARY
SHOULD BE WRITTEN YET.
>> NO QUESTION
WHEN YOU SAID IS HE WOUNDED,
CLEARLY HE'S WOUNDED
HE'S NOT DEAD IN THE WATER
ON THE FRIDAY EDITION OF THE
"TODAY" SHOW, MITT ROMNEY WAS ON
MAINLY BECAUSE OFFAL ARTICLE
ABOUT HIM.
HE WAS ASKED ABOUT CHRIS
CHRISTIE
HE SAID, I THINK THINK HE'S GO
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A PRESIDENT.
HE'S TOUGH AND WAS A LEADER.
AND THE PREVIOUS STICK
COLLECTION IS STANDING BY.
>> WHAT'S NEXT, SUBPOENAS ON
FEBRUARY rd?
THE NEXT MARKER THAT WE'RE
POINTING TOWARD?
>> RIGHT
I THINK AFTER THE DOCUMENTS COME
IN AND THEY'RE DUE ON THE THIRD,
YOU KNOW, WHO'S TO SAY THA
SOMEBODY MIGHT REQUEST O
RECEIVE AN EXTENSION FOR WHE
THOSE COME IN.
AFTER THAT WE'LL BE HAVE
LAWMAKERS LOOK THROUGH THAT AN
DECIDING WHO TO INVITE IN FO
TESTIMONY.
I IMAGINE BY MID-FEBRUARY.
>> MEANWHILE, THE U.S.
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS
INVESTIGATING.
I SAW SOME COMMENTARY THIS
MORNING SUGGESTING THAT -- O
POINTING, UNDERSCORING THE IRONY
THAT U.S. ATTORNEY
INVESTIGATING THE FORMER
POWERFUL, FAMOUS U.S. ATTORNEY
THAT PEOPLE IN THE FBI IN THAT
OFFICE MAY STILL HAVE FEELINGS
OF LOYALTY OR AD -- ADMINATION
FOR HIM.
WONDERING IF THIS WOULD LEAD T
A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR OUTSIDE I
NEW YORK
BUFF WE'RE OUT OF TIME SO
CAN'T GET ANY ANSWERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JERRY, MIKE, DARRELL, KEVIN.
WE'LL BE BACK WITH ANOTHER
"ROUNDTABLE" NEXT SATURDAY A
5:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 9:00 ON.
THIS WEEK'S, ADDITION OF "ON THE
RECORD," KEAN'S UNIVERSITY'S
CONTROVERSIAL PRESIDENT.
HE'S OUR GUEST
THAT'S SATURDAYS AT 2:00 AND
SUNDAYS AT 10:00 FOR ROBUS
COVERAGE OF THE CONTROVERS
SURROUNDING GOVERNOR CHRISTIE.
WATCH N.J. TV NEWS AT 6:00
7:30, AND 11:00.
AND WE'LL HOPE TO SEE YOU HERE
NEXT WEEK.
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NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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