John Adler: October 2011

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John Adler: October 2011

U.S. Attorney Chris Christie's Office Probed Late Rep. John Adler, Case Later Closed

Ryan J. Reilly | October 6, 2011, 12:56PM

Rep. John Adler (D-NJ)

A federal prosecutor in the office of then-U.S. Attorney and current New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) approved an investigation of the late Rep. John Adler (D-NJ) for public corruption in 2007 when Adler was still a state senator -- but later closed the case for lack of evidence.

Adler's heavily redacted FBI file, which TPM obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, indicates that a cooperating witness approached the FBI's Philadelphia division on June 20, 2007 about the awarding of a municipal code inspection contract. The witness apparently thought that then-state senator Adler's support for a 2005 law that placed inspection contracts under "local public contract law" was corrupt.

Adler ran for Congress in 2008 and was elected, taking office in January 2009. The FBI closed the case for lack of evidence just a week before Adler was sworn in to the House of Representatives, the records show.

There were no public reports about the probe at the time and no indication that Adler was ever aware he was under investigation. A person close to Adler told TPM that they did not believe Adler was aware of the investigation and suggested the cooperating witness could have had a bone to pick with Adler.

As U.S. Attorney, Christie was well known for his focus on public corruption (as well as his ability to waste money on official travel).