Christie under federal probe over use of Sandy relief funds

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is under federal investigation about whether he misused federal relief funds from Hurricane Sandy, CNN reported Monday. CNN said federal officials are investigating whether Christie improperly used relief aid in tourism ads that featured him and his family. News of the investigation came days after Christie dismissed two top advisers for their roles in the George Washington Bridge scandal in which his staff is accused of tying up traffic near the nation's busiest bridge in retaliation for a Democratic mayor's refusal to endorse Republican Christie's re-election bid. That scandal prompted two investigations. Coupled with the bridge scandal, if the federal investigation into the Sandy funds finds any wrongdoing, Christie's national ambitions -- and a potential White House bid in 2016 -- could be severely damaged. The governor's actions during and after the superstorm was widely considered a demonstration of his no-nonsense political brand. In the new inquiry, federal auditors will look into New Jersey's use of $25 million in Sandy relief funds for a marketing campaign promoting tourism on the Jersey Shore after Sandy laid the state's coastline to waste in 2012, New Jersey Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone told CNN. Pallone, a Christie critic, said he asked the Department of Housing and Urban Development in an August letter to examine Christie's choices for spending the HUD-approved marketing funds. CNN said neither the governor's office nor the HUD inspector general's office responded to a request for comment. In the letter, Pallone said he was concerned about the bidding process for the firm awarded the marketing plan because the firm awarded the bid was charging New Jersey about $2 million more than the next lowest bidder. The winning $4.7 million bid featured Christie and his family in the ads while the losing proposal did not. On Sunday, Pallone told CNN the inspector general's preliminary review determined there was enough evidence to begin a full-scale investigation. "This was money that could have directly been used for Sandy recovery. And, as you know, many of my constituents still haven't gotten the money that is owed them to rebuild their homes or raise their homes or to help," he told CNN. Last week, Christie fired two top aides for their involvement in closing down access lanes to the George Washington Bridge last year, snarling traffic for four days. Christie said he was unaware of the action and he was "embarrassed and humiliated." A New Jersey State Assembly committee is investigating whether the aides ordered the lane closures as retribution. The U.S. attorney in New Jersey also opened an investigation.