In 2007, while he was New Jersey's ranking federal prosecutor, Christopher J. Christie - now the Republican candidate for governor - lent one of his top aides $46,000. But he failed to report the loan as required under federal and state ethics rules.
Looking further at the filings:
Mr. Christie did not list the loan on his June 21, 2008, personal financial disclosure form as a member of the federal executive branch, which requires the detailing of any assets (like loans or receivables) worth more than $1,000, and any sources of income of more than $100 a year. Ms. Comella confirmed that Mr. Christie?s final disclosure as a prosecutor also omitted the loan.
Nor did he include the loan on his candidate's disclosure with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission in April 2009. One of its catchall categories of unearned income requires the detailing of "other income (including interest)" of more than $100 when the total in that category exceeds $1,000. Mr. Christie listed Pfizer and three government bonds as the sources of such income, but made no mention of the loan to Ms. Brown.
And the Democrats pounced on the latest news, with a list of questions that they probably shouldn't hold their breath waiting for answers from Christie:
Moreover, some Democrats have privately speculated that Ms. Brown has been a conduit for information between the federal prosecutor's office and Mr. Christie's campaign, particularly in the wake of the arrests of dozens of mostly Democratic political operatives in a bribery sting last month. Mr. Christie and prosecutors have angrily denied it.
Sean Darcy, a Corzine campaign spokesman, demanded that Mr. Christie explain the loan. "Now we know that Chris Christie has an ongoing financial relationship with Brown," he said. "Are they still in contact? Have they been discussing this campaign? What impact has their ongoing financial relationship had on the gubernatorial campaign?"
If last week was a bad one for Christie, this one isn't starting much better.
