New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, his hands already full with the “Bridgegate” scandal, now faces a federal inquiry into whether his state improperly used federal funds for Superstorm Sandy relief for tourism ads that featured Mr. Christie and his family.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is looking into the use of $25 million in funds and the bidding process that led to their production, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Rep. Frank Pallone, a New Jersey Democrat who called for the probe, praised HUD’s inspector general for taking a look at how the funds were used.
In a letter last year, Mr. Pallone asked why New Jersey’s “Stronger than the Storm” ads featured Mr. Christie and his family, and why the state chose a bidder that came in $2 million higher than a competitor.
Mr. Christie, a Republican, is already reeling from reports that top aides directed the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to close down two of the access lanes from Fort Lee, N.J., to the George Washington Bridge in September.
Correspondence released last week suggests the move may have been political payback against the town’s Democratic mayor, who failed to endorse Mr. Christie for re-election.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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