McLeod: U.S Attorney investigating Pallone

Former Judge Robert McLeod, the GOP candidate for congress in the 6th district running against Frank Pallone, said today that U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie has been investigating Pallone, and that Pallone's frequent attacks against Christie are designed to "ward off any idictments."

In an email to New Jersey conservative bloggers, McLeod outlined what he says are Christie/Pallone connections and a "miniscule part" of Pallone's "will work for contributions" practices.

Below is the text of McLeod's memo:

Frank Pallone, Chris Christie, other Prosecutors & the Lobbyists

Frank Pallone obtained federal funds in the amount of $32 million—i.e., earmarks—for the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in return for help from the University’s lobbyist, Marilyn Berry Thompson, in raising campaign funds. Besides the direct contribution employees were encouraged to attend fundraisers. “[A]n ethics advocate told The Record of Bergen County that the e-mails ‘paint a picture of how pay-to-play works.’” Asbury Park Press, February 25, 2008, p. A3.

The Washington Times reported that Rep. Frank Pallone requested that Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers., Michigan, look into the monitoring/nonprosecution agreement between the Stryker Corp., a medical implant and equipment manufacturer which was charged with price fixing and paying kickbacks to surgeons along with Zimmer Holdings and three other medical implant companies. The Stryker family of Kalamazoo, Michigan, principals of the Stryker Corp., have been investigated and convicted in a number of jurisdictions for corrupt practices. Pallone has received tens of thousands of dollars from the Stryker Corp, Zimmer Holdings and other medical equipment manufacturers. “First Spitzer, Now Stryker,” The American Spectator, Washington Prowler, March 11, 2008.

“[T]his is classic Jersey politics.” Pallone chairs the House Health Subcommittee. He has received $1,201,647 from health PACS and $807,082 from donors having ties to the healthcare industry. He is the 10th largest recipient in the House of healthcare contributions for the 2008 re-election cycle In 2006 U.S. Attorney Chris Christie impaneled a federal grand jury to investigate whether Pallone had been the beneficiary of improper campaign finance actions by officials at UMDNJ. Employees were instructed to contribute $1000.00 to Pallone, for which they were later repaid in cash. To ward off any further action by this grand jury Pallone commenced his pattern of counterattacks on Christie and later John Ashcroft. “The Jersey Boys,” The American Spectator, Washington Prowler, January 14, 2008.

John Ashcroft was the United States Attorney General and Christie’s former boss. He was one of five former U.S. Attorneys/Attorneys General appointed as monitors of the medical implement companies by Christie. The others were David Kelley, former U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, Debra Yang, former U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles, David Samson, former New Jersey Attorney General, and John Carley, former attorney for the Federal Trade Commission. www.truthout.org, November 20, 2007.

Pallone quickly attacked the appointment of Ashcroft by Christie. www.truthout.org, November 23, 2007.

Besides enriching himself with contributions Pallone is doing the bidding of Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and another big recipient of Stryker family money. The Stryker family is also a big contributor to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a cause close to Pallone’s heart, or another body part. Stryker Orthopedics, Inc, a subsidiary of Stryker Corp., is based in Mahwah, New Jersey. www.the-two-malcontents.com/2008/03/11medical-supplier-stryker-probed/

The Stryker Corporation was convicted of Medicare fraud in South Dakota in 2006 and again by the U.S. Justice Department in 2007. www.cologop.org, March 18, 2008.

The Stryker Corp. and members of the Stryker family have been investigated in Michigan for violations of Michigan law and the Federal Corrupt Foreign Practices Act. Kalamazoo Gazette, Alex Nixon, November 2, 2007. See also www.migop.org,

On another “will work for contributions” front you have probably been aware of Pallone’s ties to the South Asian/Indian community. Pallone is a co-founder of the 185 member House India Caucus. At the urging of the India Political Action Committee he is a regular and frequent beneficiary of fundraisers sponsored by Indian-American executives. In return he supports the transfer of American nuclear technology to India. “Hoping for influence, India makes U.S. allies, “ Michael Forsythe and Veena Trehan, International Herald Tribune, July 16, 2006, www.iht.com; www.bloomberg.com.