Christie to resign as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor

U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie, who prosecuted scores of political corruption cases during almost seven years in office, announced his resignation yesterday, sparking widespread speculation he is preparing to run for governor.

Christie, a Republican, is stepping down effective Dec. 1 and is the favorite of his party's establishment to run against Democratic Gov. Corzine next year.

"A new level of attention was brought to the scourge of political corruption in this state and we are proud of the results," Christie said in his resignation letter.

Christie has declined to answer questions about his future, but party leaders said they were excited about a possible Christie candidacy.

"I look at him as somebody who is willing to do the right thing, who is willing to stand up and fight for something he believes in, which is clean, honest, effective government," state GOP Chairman Tom Wilson said. "He's somebody who puts the public interest ahead of the political interest. That is what we need in a governor."

Since being sworn into office in January 2002, the 46-year-old Christie has gotten guilty pleas or convictions in cases involving more than 130 elected and appointed officials.

His 143-member office has convicted former Senate President John Lynch, one of the most powerful figures in the state, as well as former Newark Mayor Sharpe James and Democratic Party financier Charles Kushner on corruption charges.

Democrats argue that many of Christie's targets have been Democrats, but Christie's supporters argue that the U.S. attorney took on a gaggle of Republicans in Monmouth County and James Treffinger, the former GOP Essex County executive, while he was in the middle of a U.S. Senate race.

Beyond corruption, Christie has notched his belt with white-collar criminals ripping off Medicare and stockholders, as well as child pornographers and violent criminals.

The office currently has two high-profile cases: Jurors are deliberating in the case against former State Sen. Wayne Bryant, (D., Camden), who is accused of taking a "low-show" job in exchange for getting government funds to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and five local men accused of plotting to break into Fort Dix and kill soldiers are on trial.

Most Democrats responded tepidly to the Christie resignation. They said they were expecting it, because none saw President-elect Barack Obama reappointing him. Democrats are expecting Christie to take on Corzine.

"We'll see which Republican wins the primary and stay focused on doing good things for New Jersey," said Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Cryan, a Union County Assemblyman.

Corzine's press secretary, Sean Darcy, said, "the governor's been clear about the need to confront all of the challenges we face in the ethical environment as it exists in this state. Since President Bush appointed him U.S. attorney, Chris Christie has been a strong contributing factor in those efforts."

And Darcy said Corzine is looking forward to a new prosecutor to continue the fight.

The governor has been quietly tuning up his election machine for months. At the same time, supporters are saying he could be an appointee in the Obama administration. The governor's office said yesterday Corzine has had no formal contact from the Obama transition team.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D., N.J.) reacted by promising to haul Christie in front of the House Judiciary Committee to explain why he hired former Attorney General John Ashcroft to be the federal monitor in a medical-implant case. Ashcroft was Christie's old boss and stands to make millions in legal fees.

In a statement, Pallone, who has been Christie's leading critic, said, "I also remain concerned that Christie has engaged in improper political activities in recent months while still serving as the U.S. attorney."

He questions whether Christie has been building a campaign while still in the U.S. Attorney's Office.

In his resignation letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Christie wrote his own narrative - one voters could hear more about if he runs for governor.

Tracing his career from the terror attacks on the World Trade Center, which killed hundreds of New Jersey residents, to the present, Christie concluded that the job "has been the greatest professional experience of my life."

He highlighted his executive experience, saying that each year his office prosecuted more criminal cases than the year before, and increased staffing and prosecutions out of the satellite offices in Trenton and Camden.

But how Christie will be received as a candidate for governor is unknown. He served one term as a Morris County freeholder and failed to be reelected in the 1990s. His positions on taxes, stem-cell research, state spending, social issues and programs are as unknown as his ability to steer the state through troubled economic waters.

He likely faces a challenge from other Republicans in the primary. Former Bogata Mayor Steve Lonegan said yesterday his campaign is building an organization and raising money. Assemblyman Rick Merkt (R., Morris) also is in the race and businessman John Crowley has hinted at a run.

Any Republican considering a run for statewide office has to consider the party's steady loss of power since 1997, the last time a GOP candidate won statewide office with former Gov. Christie Whitman's reelection.

In the recent election, the party lost one of its six congressional seats; Democratic State Sen. John Adler, of Camden County, won the seat held by retiring Rep. James Saxton (R., N.J.).

Still, Republicans have great hope for Christie. Both Senate Minority Leader Thomas H. Kean Jr., (R., Union) and Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce, (R., Morris) issued statements praising Christie, and both have said they would support him.

"I think there's an awful good feeling around a potential Christie candidacy," said State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R., Monmouth). Kyrillos said he expected Christie to huddle with party leaders and others between leaving office Dec. 1 and early next year to make a definite decision about running.

Assembly Republican Whip Jon Bramnick (R., Union) said Christie's aggressive prosecutions of corrupt public officials were a prime influence in ethics reform in Trenton. He said Christie would be a likeable candidate who would prove to voters that he could "come down here and drastically change things."

Though a successor hasn't been named to run the office until the Obama administration takes over, resigning U.S. attorneys are generally replaced by their first assistants. Ralph Marra, the first assistant, is lead prosecutor on the Bryant case.

By tradition, the new U.S. attorney for New Jersey would be selected by the state's two senators and nominated by the president.

Age:

46.

Family:

Lives in Mendham, N.J., with his wife and four children.

Occupation:

U.S. attorney for state of New Jersey until Dec. 1. Nominated by President Bush in December 2001 and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Sworn into office on Jan. 17, 2002.

About the job:

Christie is the state's top federal prosecutor. His office includes 143 attorneys with offices in Newark, Trenton and Camden. Has convicted 130 public officials on corruption charges since becoming U.S. attorney. Office is charged with the enforcement of federal civil and criminal laws in the state.

Political background:

Republican. Morris County freeholder, 1995-97; fund-raiser for George W. Bush's 2000 presidential campaign.

Education:

Graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor of arts degree in political science in 1984, and from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1987.

Legal career:

Joined the law firm of Dughi, Hewit & Palatucci of Cranford, N.J., in 1987. Named a partner in the firm in 1993. Specialized in securities law and appellate practice.

- AP