US Attorney Chris Christie Resigns, will contest Linda Stender In NJ 7th District

Originally posted by huntsu at Blue Jersey.

Chris Christie is one of the dirtiest US Attorneys around.  After John Ashcroft resigned as USAG, Christie got him a cushy, no-bid contract to the tune of $52 million.  He's done everything but turn over graves in his zeal to investigate Democrats in the state.  And now he's going after Linda Stender.

This isn't great news for Ms. Stender.  After Mike Ferguson announced his intention to retire, Republicans found it difficult to find someone to run for this seat.  All their first choices declined.  Now there could be a real battle for this district.  Stender almost defeated Ferguson in the 2006 election, and would almost certainly have beaten him this year.

Huntzu's original story and a link to contribute to Linda Stender follow after the jump.

Chris Christie is set to announce today that he will resign his position as US Attorney effective immediately to seek the Republican nomination in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.

The resignation comes as a delightful surprise to many of us who have maintained all along that Christie's office was a stepping to stone to higher office.  However, we always thought he was gunning for US Senate or Governor, not to succeed a weak, backbencher like Mike Ferguson.

The embargoed statement, which Bob Ingle forwarded to Blue Jersey founder Juan Melli, had little to surprise except the resignation itself.

"I've done all I can to clean up the Democratic stink in this state, and now will work to defeat Democrats as the Republican nominee in the 7th District," said Christie.  "I've been after Linda Stender for six years, but I can't manufacture anything that'll stick.  She is, unfortunately, an honest public servant.

"However, if I beat her bad enough in this race, though, she'll resign out of embarrassment and Marty Marks can have her seat."

Christie reportedly plans to move to Linden, NJ to a small apartment over a Dunkin Donuts.  "I'm a man of the people.  I don't go in for $10 Starbucks and apple fritters.   Gimme a Box of Joe and a box of Munchkins and I am good to go."

Leading candidates to replace Christie as US Attorney are John Ashcroft, Andy Unanue and Rob Andrews.

You can contribute to Linda Stender's Congressional Campaign here.

•  Damn April Fool's Day!

  I got all excited, of course.

  by jamfan on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:17:49 AM PDT

•  Thank heavens this is an April Fool's diary.

  by DemocraticLuntz on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:18:08 AM PDT

•  The truth of the matter is:

  Penn State coach Joe Paterno is moving to NJ-07 to run against Linda Stender ;-)

  by Greasy Grant on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:21:29 AM PDT

•  Title alone gave me a mini-heart attack.

  Then I read the thing and knew it was crazy.

  Thankfully.

  by AUBoy2007 on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:22:37 AM PDT

  •  That's the mark of a good April Fool's diary.

    by DemocraticLuntz on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:23:12 AM PDT

•  Smack jar?

  I couldn't ask for tips with a straight face!

  by njheathen on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:23:58 AM PDT

  •  Whoa!

    Don't DO this to us!

    Great "quotes" from Christie.....

    by JoeW on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:26:32 AM PDT

  •  Superb job. This is what an April Fool's diary

    should be.

    Or, failing that, it should at least be original.

    My ideas:

    "Obama endorses Male Genital Mutilation Ban Bill"

    "Gravel signs with Def Jam"

    "Massive vote-counting error uncovered; Gravel now leads in delegates"

    "Fed trashed; start of the rEVOLution?"

    by DemocraticLuntz on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:26:33 AM PDT

•  Would've been even better if Jill Hazelbaker

  was brought into it somehow.

  by DemocraticLuntz on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:24:09 AM PDT

  •  Wow

    Not-so-fond memories of '06! Are you in Jersey?

    by jamfan on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:29:55 AM PDT

    •  I vote there.

      by DemocraticLuntz on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:31:24 AM PDT

    •  I vote there as well (nt)

      by njheathen on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:33:48 AM PDT

•  What NJ Deserves

  Chris Christie is one of the dirtiest US Attorneys around.  After John Ashcroft resigned as USAG, Christie got him a cushy, no-bid contract to the tune of $52 million.

  If Stender can't convince Jerseyites to vote for her instead of "one of the dirtiest US Attorneys around", then NJ deserves to be represented by one.

  by DocGonzo on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:35:38 AM PDT

  •  April Fooled!

    Got me :).

    Still mean it, tho.

    by DocGonzo on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:45:20 AM PDT

    •  There was a give away in the quote ...

      The last line of the block quoted text (though it doesn't appear to be a quote from anything) is: "Leading candidates to replace Christie as US Attorney are John Ashcroft, Andy Unanue and Rob Andrews."

      John Ashcroft replacing Chris Christie?  Hmmm ... I smell an april fools joke.

      The hook was in my mouth though as the GOP does look like they're out of candidates in NJ both for Ferguson's seat and to run against Lautenberg.

      Andy Unanue I think is they running against Lautenberg, if announcing his candiacy while on vacation in Hawaii counts as "running".

      I think Rob Andrews (R?)is the representative from like somewhere south of Princeton, south of Rush Holt's district-- Rush Holt, awesome politician BTW.

      by musicalhair on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 10:50:10 AM PDT

•  was he with the new christie menstruals?

  by 2nd balcony on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:36:58 AM PDT

•  I hear Pauline Paulose would be...

  willing to fill the position of AG for Chris Christie.  She states that "I am willing, nay eager to take the position of AG if appointed by God, or George Bush.  I will bring the same work ethic that I brought to Minnesota.  And being a Republican, I understand ethics and how unethical democrats can be.  Just look at former Gov. Seigalman."  

  by miller415 on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 10:22:06 AM PDT

•  that's just mean.

  well done :)

  by bread and roses on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 10:23:54 AM PDT