Report: Christie steered $52M contract to Ashcroft

Report: Christie steered $52M contract to Ashcroft

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- The law firm of former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft is set to collect more than $52 million to help the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey monitor leading manufacturers of knee and hip replacements.

The Star-Ledger of Newark reported for Tuesday's newspapers that Ashcroft is among five private attorneys whom U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie hand-picked to monitor the implant makers.

Christie worked under Ashcroft from 2002 to 2005.

Ashcroft's Washington, D.C.-based firm is poised to collect more than $52 million in 18 months, the newspaper reported.

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"I certainly don't think it's a problem to hire somebody who used to be your boss but no longer is," said Christie. "What am I getting out of this exactly? I can tell you, I'm getting nothing, except the comfort in hiring people I know I can trust to do the job."

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