For Immediate Release:
The New Jersey agency entrusted with ensuring access to public records may be Gov. Chris Christie's biggest ally for keeping a pension scandal secret in an election year.
After a sudden decision last year not to review state Treasury documents that could incriminate Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno – Christie's running mate – the Government Records Council sat on the case five months before transferring it to the Office of Administrative Law.
The council voted in December to punt the case to OAL. Yet GRC staff waited until this month to send the file, despite an assurance the referral would only take a week or two.
"The delay was due to a work backlog in the Government Records Council," said spokeswoman Lisa Ryan. She would not elaborate.
As a result, a 2-year-old appeal by New Jersey Watchdog returns to Square One. It now appears unlikely the case will decided – or documents released – until after the November gubernatorial election.
The circumstances raise doubt on whether GRC can be trusted with disputes over executive branch records. All members of the council are either Christie cabinet members or public members appointed by the governor. GRC's executive director, Brandon Minde, is Christie's former assistant legal counsel.
Ironically, Christie campaigned on a platform of reform and open government when he was elected governor in 2009.
The complete story is now online at http://newjersey.watchdog.org. The direct link to the article is http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2013/05/21/8551/
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