Gov. Chris Christie's administration has released the results of an internal investigation into the George Washington Bridge lane closures. The report clears Christie of wrongdoing, but New Jersey Democrats question its validity.
Thursday, 27 March 2014
With $1B In Aid For Ukraine, Congress Puts Money Where Its Mouth Is
Congress has approved a billion-dollar aid package for Ukraine. Both chambers voted in favor, two days after Senate Democrats removed a provision to overhaul the International Monetary Fund.
Congress Approves Ukraine Aid, Sanctions On Russia
The House and Senate approved $1 billion in loan guarantees for Ukraine and sanctions on Moscow for Russia's annexation of Crimea.
Thursday's voice vote in the Senate and a 399-19 vote in the House for a different version of the bill came just hours after the International Monetary Fund pledged $18 billion in assistance for the former Soviet satellite.
Among other things, the aid package directs the White House to help the new Ukrainian government identify and recover illegal assets claimed by the country's ousted pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, as well as members of his family and government.
The vote is a show of support for President Obama, who has already announced the sanctions against the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Washington Post says the House bill "puts into law several executive orders issued by Obama in recent days to punish Russian officials tied to the uprising in Ukraine and Crimea.
"The House measure authorizes the Treasury Department to closely monitor Russian banks for signs that they are undermining Ukrainian assets; bolsters funding for Voice of America and Radio Free Europe broadcasts into Ukraine and Crimea; and calls for increased U.S. investments in the Ukrainian economy."
The House and Senate still must agree on minor differences in the two chambers' version of the bill.
Bills appoint 7 to stadium search group
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Bills can go ahead and begin their search for a potential new home in the Buffalo area after naming seven appointees to what's called "A New Stadium Working Group."
Bills president Russ Brandon and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer were among the appointees announced Thursday in a move that came two days after team owner Ralph Wilson died. The Bills appointees were the final ones added to what will be a 19-member group made up of public and private leaders.
The establishment of a stadium search committee was a requirement of the 10-year lease the Bills negotiated with the state and county in December 2012.
The lease agreement included the commitment of $130 million in public and private funds for upgrades at Ralph Wilson Stadium, which opened in 1973.
Clark confirmed as new head of MLB players' union
NEW YORK -- Tony Clark has been confirmed as the new head of the Major League Baseball Players Association.
The former All-Star became acting executive director when Michael Weiner died Nov. 21, then was given the job in a unanimous vote by the union's executive board on Dec. 3.
The union said Thursday that Clark was approved in a secret ballot and online vote conducted among players.
Comerica Bank awards grants for baseball, softball
DETROIT -- Comerica Bank has awarded two $10,000 grants to help support high school baseball and softball programs in suburban Detroit and the Muskegon area.
The awards announced Thursday are being given to Robichaud High School in Dearborn Heights to benefit its baseball and softball programs as well as Mona Shores High School for its baseball program that will help create a second baseball diamond.
It's the fourth consecutive year for the Grand Slam Grant program. Robichaud High plans to use the money to renovate its fields.
The grant recipients will be recognized on the field at Comerica Park prior to the Detroit Tigers game April 5 against the Baltimore Orioles.
In addition to the grant, each winning school will also get game tickets.
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Online:
http://bit.ly/1lpbEkv
Review Done For Gov. Christie's Office Absolves Him In Bridge Scandal
hide captionNew Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Mel Evans/AP
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Mel Evans/AP
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's "account of these events rings true" and he has "conducted himself at every turn as someone who has nothing to hide," according to an investigation — done at the request of the governor's office — of the George Washington Bridge scandal.
The law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher also concludes that the only person in the Republican governor's office who was involved in closing lanes from Fort Lee, N.J., to the bridge last September was his deputy chief of staff at the time, Bridget Kelly.
"We have not found any evidence of anyone in the governor's office knowing
about the lane realignment beforehand or otherwise being involved, besides Bridget Kelly," the reports states.
What motivated Kelly and David Wildstein, director of interstate capital projects at The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey to order the lane closures still isn't clear, the report adds. But, "it was not at the behest of Gov. Christie, who knew nothing about it."
The investigators did not speak with Kelly or Wildstein, who along with former Christie campaign manager Bill Stepien declined to talk to them.
The firm's report is posted here.
As you'll likely recall, lane closures from Fort Lee to the bridge last September caused massive traffic problems in that city for four days. Over subsequent weeks and months, news reports uncovered evidence that the lanes may have been closed in part to cause problems for Fort Lee's mayor, who is a Democrat.
Kelly and Wildstein were identified in those news reports as allegedly being central characters in the scandal.
NJ.com adds that the report released Thursday also "concluded that Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer's allegations that the Christie administration withheld Hurricane Sandy aid in an effort to help a private developer were unsubstantiated, 'demonstrably false,' and 'unbelievable.' " Zimmer is a Democrat.
The report recommends, though, that Christie name a chief ethics officer for his office to guard against future scandals.
Thursday's report is by no means the final word on the scandal. New Jersey legislators are also looking into what happened. Democrats, in part because Christie is a potential 2016 presidential contender, are sure to keep digging.
Randy Mastro, the Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher lawyer who led the review, told reporters Thursday that "had we found evidence to the contrary of what we found, we would have been reporting that. ... We believe we got it right." Mastro said the review was done at the request of the governor's office and for the people of New Jersey, not for any individual.
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