John W. Crosbie was given prosecutorial immunity by Christie in 2008 for agreeing to testify against former N.J. Sen. Wayne Bryant
Senator Loretta Weinberg listens to a committee hearing in January. Weinberg has called on the Christie administration to provide documents explaining why they hired a former witness in an N.J. corruption trial.TRENTON — State Sen. Loretta Weinberg is requesting documents from Gov. Chris Christie’s administration to explain how a cooperating witness at a former state senator’s corruption trial landed a job in his administration.
In 2008, John W. Crosbie was given prosecutorial immunity by Christie, who was then U.S. Attorney, in exchange for his testimony against former state Sen. Wayne Bryant and former University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Dean R. Michael Gallagher. Crosbie, a top administrator for UMDNJ at the time, admitted to fabricating documents to make Bryant’s low-show job at the university — given to him in exchange for steering millions of dollars in state grants to the university — look legitimate.
Crosbie was hired by the Department of Health and Senior Services in July as executive director for three commissions on autism, spinal cord research and brain injury, at a salary of $110,000.
His hiring was first reported on Sunday by The Auditor, The Star-Ledger’s weekly political column. Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said last week that Crosbie was hired through the interview process, and nobody involved in his hiring knew his history.
“Nobody got hired for a $110,000 a year job in this administration who wasn’t vetted. This guy did not parachute from the land of Oz into a job,” said Weinberg. “It’s impossible to believe.”
Crosbie abruptly left the job last week, just two business days after the Star-Ledger inquired about his employment, and Drewniak would not say whether he left voluntarily or was fired.
Weinberg filed several requests through the Open Public Records Act for all documents and correspondence regarding his employment and work product.
Crosbie could not be reached for comment.
This is not the first time Weinberg has sought documents from the administration. Last year, she requested documents about a surplus from a prescription drug program that she wanted to use to offset Christie’s cuts to women’s health clinics, but was given virtually no documents.
“The one document I got was an article from the Philadelphia Inquirer,” she said.
Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said Weinberg’s request “will be addressed as provided by law.”
Previous coverage:
• The Auditor: Crosbie's immunity may have worn off