John Adler

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

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

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).

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Topics: Chris Christie, FBI, John Adler

Wall Street

New Dems Met With Wall St. Execs While Pushing to Weaken Financial Reform

Zachary Roth | January 6, 2010, 12:45PM

A group of moderate Democrats held private meetings this fall with executives from Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase, while in the midst of pushing successfully to water down landmark legislation designed to beef up regulation of the financial industry.

In mid October, members of the New Democrat Coalition (NDC), a caucus of pro-business Democrats, traveled to New York City. According to an emailed itinerary for the trip drawn up by an event planner working for the group and obtained by TPMmuckraker, members met on October 12 with executives from Goldman, and the following day with execs from JP Morgan. Sandwiched between those events was a fundraiser for the New Dems, and a meeting with CEOs from Marsh and McLellan Companies, a consulting and insurance firm.

[SEE THE ITINERARY EMAIL HERE. SEE AN INVITATION FOR THE FUNDRAISER HERE]

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Topics: Barney Frank, Financial Crisis, Gabrielle Giffords, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Jim Himes, John Adler, Joseph Crowley, Melissa Bean, Scott Murphy, Wall Street