Paul J. Fishman: The Man Who Worries Chris Christie

We’d wager you’re not familiar with the name Paul J. Fishman, but if you’re a political junkie you will want to know who he is and why he’s now a major player. The New York Times has profiled him in their Monday edition:

For most of the nearly 1,600 days that Paul J. Fishman has been the United States attorney for New Jersey, he has carved out a strikingly different path from the juggernaut who preceded him: Gov. Chris Christie.

Mr. Fishman has aggressively pursued health care fraud, cybercrimes and financial misdeeds; Mr. Christie was obsessed with public corruption. Mr. Fishman has been a frequent presence in Washington as a top adviser to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.; Mr. Christie was almost removed, twice, by the Bush administration for reasons that were never clear.

As a prosecutor with an eye on the governor’s office, Mr. Christie displayed a zest for self-promotion, frequently leaking information to the news media, and an uncannily instinctive approach to high-profile cases, leaving the details to others. Mr. Fishman, no one’s definition of a media hound or future candidate, has often delved into the minutiae of cases and frowns upon even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Now, however, Mr. Fishman has been thrust into the awkward and highly public role of investigating his predecessor, as part of an inquiry into the closing of access lanes at the George Washington Bridge and other apparent acts of political retribution.

By: dave-dr-gonzo

David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.

* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.