David Samson, 77, a former New Jersey attorney general, is set to receive a sentencing in federal court after pleading guilty to bribery charges last summer. Samson is Chris Christie’s (Republican Governor of New Jersey) mentor. Mr. Samson was accused of using his position as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey chairman in 2012 for unjust purposes. He wanted to access his weekend home in Aiken easily, and so he coerced United Airlines to bring back a loss-making flight from Newark to Columbia, South Carolina. The arrangement would spare Samson from driving for one hour to his weekend home.
The septuagenarian might be in the “orange jumpsuit” for up to two years. On Monday Samson, will appear in court for his sentencing.
Soon after Samson resigned from office at the beginning of 2014, United Airlines discontinued the flights. When they made the secret deal, the airline was in negotiating over a lease for a hangar at Network Liberty International Airport with the Port Authority, the prosecutors said.
Michael Chertoff, a former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, is among a list lawyers who are defending Samson. His attorneys pleaded for clemency when they filed a summary claiming that the actions that Samson made were “an aberration in an otherwise unblemished and extraordinary career.” They also added that Samson’s health is poor and he is “very likely in the last few years of his life.”
It is a morose and embarrassing conclusion to a very decorated career to one of the most influential people in New Jersey. He spearheaded the transition team for Gov. Christie and was awarded by being appointed as the chairman of the Port Authority in 2011. The authority operates bridges, ports, tunnels and airports around New York as well as managing assets that are worth more than a billion dollars.
The Prosecutors responded to the brief written by Samson’s attorneys saying that they wanted him to serve the full 2 years. They also said that the Port Authority chairman misused his office in a manner that was extraordinary and showed an impudent lack of respect. “There are few instances in which public officials have had the moxie to demand something so grand,” the prosecution added.
David Wildstein, who was the mastermind behind the closing of the George Washington Bridge lane, testified during the trial that autumn that Samson was well aware of what was going on before it even happened. Wildstein was trying to allude that Samson was knee deep in the gridlock that was there for four days in September 2013, when he texted saying Samson was assisting them to counterattack the decision made by Pat Foye, the Executive Director of the Port Authority, to stop the realignment of the lane.
Bill Baroni, a Port Authority official that was convicted, also testified that he was told by Samson to assault Mr. Foye by punching him in the face over the disagreement.
Samson did not face any charges in the George Washington Bridge scandal, and he also escaped charges when federal officials probed into possible disputes that included his law firm while he was the chairman of the Port Authority.
