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Long Branch, NJ --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) issued the following statement in response to U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie's announcement today that Christie plans to resign on December 1st.
"With his impending resignation, Chris Christie can no longer hide behind the Justice Department and should agree to testify before Congress on questionable deferred prosecution agreements that he arranged while U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. The House Judiciary Committee wants to hear why Christie chose his former boss, then attorney general John Ashcroft, to serve as a federal monitor in a medical implant case where Ashcroft's firm stood to collect over $52 million in legal fees. Christie should also explain to Congress why the use of deferred prosecution agreements increased so dramatically on his watch.
"I also remain concerned that Christie has engaged in improper political activities in recent months while still serving as the U.S. Attorney. Numerous press reports have highlighted aggressive political outreach by Christie and his political lieutenants in order to develop a campaign infrastructure for a possible run for governor. In an effort to allay these concerns, I hope Christie agrees to release his private and public schedules for the last two years so that the public can make its own judgment regarding any possible political activity by the U.S. Attorney."
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