newjerseynewsroom.com

Full Senate expected to ok on Monday

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved Gov. Chris Christie’s nomination of Jeff Chiesa, his chief counsel, to replace Paula T. Dow as state attorney general.

The full Senate is expected to approve the nomination on Monday.

Christie has nominated Dow to a state Superior Court seat but Senate Democrats are blocking further action.

Sen. Kip Bateman (R-Somerset), a Judiciary Committee member, said Chiesa has the character and experience to serve in the state’s top law enforcement post.

“Governor Christie was known as a corruption buster in his service as U.S. Attorney, so it’s no surprise he would appoint someone like Jeff who shares his dedication and work ethic to take on that challenge as our state’s attorney general,” Bateman said. “As Attorney General, I have no doubt in my mind that Jeff Chiesa will be persistent, effective and fair, and he’ll do much to make New Jersey a safer place to live.”

Chiesa served a Christie’s chief counsel from January 2010 to last month, when he was nominated to be attorney general. He served under Christie in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark from 2002 to 2009, last serving as the executive assistant to Christie. Chiesa also served as counsel to the U.S. Attorney and as chief of the Public Protection Unit, where he supervised a group of Assistant U.S. attorneys primarily responsible for the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases involving bank robbery, child pornography, human trafficking and identity theft.

“With his extensive experience overseeing criminal investigations, it’s clear that Jeff is the right man for the job,” Bateman said. “I look forward to a vote in the full Senate to complete the confirmation of Jeff Chiesa as attorney general.”

While Dow’s nomination problems are settled, she will temporarily become the first deputy general counsel for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Christie has said the Port Authority as having a history of mismanaging its finances. He said Dow will be in a position to bring her law enforcement experience to monitor the audit process and recommend changes that could end fiscal waste. Christie approved a bridge and tunnel toll hike in the summer.

Dow, a former Essex County prosecutor, became the attorney general after Christie took office in January 2010.