Christie Aides Tried To Stop Criminal Probe Into New Jersey Politician's Daughter, Detective Claims

Aides to Gov. Chris Christie attempted to shut down a criminal investigation into a New Jersey politician's daughter ahead of the governor's 2013 re-election, according to a lawsuit filed by a detective in the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office

The lawsuit, filed last month by Detective Steven Mecka, claims aides to the governor attempted to influence the investigation because the probe's exposure could hurt Christie's re-election chances.

Mecka makes the allegations in a civil lawsuit fild in state Superior Court on May 4, claiming widespread "official corruption" in state, county and local government, noting he's suffered adverse employment actions - such as being passed over for promotion - for fighting back.

The lawsuit is filed against Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato and other local authorities, even though Coronato was not prosecutor when the alleged incidents took place.

Al Della Fave, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, said his office "vehemently denies" the charges and intends to refute them. He said that Mecka still works in the office.

Della Fave said Mecka's claims were investigated by the Attorney General's Office and the State Police and "nothing came from it."

Attempts to obtain comment from the governor's office were unsuccessful at press time.

In the lawsuit, Mecka claims he investigated Dawn Kelly, a daughter of Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly who also has held the position of Little Egg Harbor tax collector.

Dawn Kelly was accused of stealing more than $40,000 in taxpayer money to support a drug habit - a crime for which she accepted a plea deal for lesser charges that kept her out of prison.

In the lawsuit, Mecka says he reported the theft to the FBI in 2013. Little Egg Harbor Township Committeeman Raymond Gormley was supposed to meet with the FBI in an arrangement set up by Mecka.

But Gormley, according to the lawsuit, claimed that Jack Kelly attempted to influence and intervene in the investigation and avoid having his daughter criminally charged, and that Kelly "used his political influence to successfully manipulate the Attorney General's criminal investigation."

Gormley also said that Christopher Stark and Eileen Egen, then both aides to Christie, each approached him at his place of business, "intimidating him to use his influence to get the Dawn Kelly investigation/inquests shut down," according to the lawsuit

Gormley said he was told the probe, according to the lawsuit, "would look bad if matters were ever exposed to the public, especially before an election."

Kelly, a Republican, has served in county government since 1992 and is a staunch ally of Christie. The Republican governor recently nominated Kelly to the state Parole Board, despite reports of comments he made that were viewed as anti-gay.

Patch obtained a copy of the 21-page lawsuit which also makes a number of claims, mostly general and broad, that were first reported by The Asbury Park Press.

Here is the suit: