“Mafoliegate Part II” Set for January 12
Sen. Neville James
The second hearing to investigate the events surrounding the “Mafoliegate” scandal will be held January 12, 2010, at a time and place to be announced. And among those scheduled to be subponaed to testify is newly confirmed Superior Court Judge designee Adam Christian.
Sen. Neville James announced the hearing on Monday during the Legislative session. James, who chairs the Financial Services, Infrastructure and Consumer Affairs Committee, convened the initial hearing on the matter on October 20. The subject of investigation is the use of some $490,000 in public funds to renovate Gov. John P. deJongh Jr.’s Estate Mafolie private property.
Several members of the deJongh administration, including Judge designee Christian and members of the Public Finance Authority, declined to testify at that time and are scheduled to be subponaed to the January session.
Christians’ role as chief counsel to the Governor during the Mafoliegate incident was the basis for the objections of the six Senators who opposed his confirmation Monday to the Superior Court. Christian declined to answer several questions posed to him during his nomination hearing based on the “attorney-client privilege” he said existed between himself and the Governor related to the public funds scandal. Sen. James stated that the timing of Christians’ nomination in the midst of the investigation was “unfortunate” when discussing his rationale for not supporting the confirmation at this time.
If Adam Christian is scheduled to testify at the Mafoliegate II hearing, why did the nine senators confirm him as judge? Couldn’t they postpone his nomination until after the hearing, like what they did with Alpine?
It was hilarious to observe how many times his “rich, prominent family” and status as a “native son” were mentioned as evidence as to why he should be confirmed. Only in the Virgin Islands. But maybe I’m just young.
The hypocracy that defines the Senate is quite clandestine. I find it rather strange Senator Neville James did not make a motion to hold the nomination since he now has assumed a lead role in Mafoliegate. I seriously doubt anything significant is going to come out of the next hearing especially when the Senators had so much time to develop another plan of deception.
The hearing should have taken place BEFORE Christian’s confirmation. He delayed the process too long after beating his chest and stating he would have the hearing in late summer and then did not subpoena the testifiers just ‘invite’ them so several could weasel out of coming.
I thought better of James than to play the political game. Yes he voted against Christian but he still was confirmed. Maybe he would not have been if the hearing was done more expeditiously.
Maybe we need to remove both James’ from the senate next year.
Like I said, this is all a ploy by N. James to make himself and opponents of the governor look good politically. That way, by election time, this would one of the things people would remember concerning Gov. DeJongh when they go to the polls. If he had schedule this hearing BEFORE Christmas, by New Years, we would stop talking about Mafoliegate.
T,
If you really beleive that ploy by N. James then I don’t think your really paying attention. James had so many opportunities to really expose this wrong doing, however I think he was more focused on making others look bad and sound intelligent. He has delayed the process because he claimed no one runs his committee (including the people of the Virgin Islands), therefore he will call it as he wish. Interesting attitude. After all, was it not both him and Senator Thurland who said they don’t need the job? They can go back to doing what they did before. What an interesting bunch…
Thurland can go back to being Donna’s go-fer….but exactly what did Nelville do before he became a senator? NOTHING in his bio on the LEGIT site.
Neville ran an ad today in the AVIS….thanking Virgin Islanders. He did not say what he was thanking us for. Maybe his huge salary and perks? A happy ho ho ho and new year for anyone who would vote for him after his dismal performance this year?
Who pays for these ads anyway? Taxpayers is who.
I do recall Marc Biggs ran ads constantly before he was sent up the river for 7 year’s after his money laundering conviction. Maybe Neville is following in his footsteps.
This is an example of WHY the majority of senators voted in favor of W James spending money on his trips. IF senators had said no to James, then they too would have to be accountable for how they spend…Senators who cant afford to point fingers have a reason for it.
Dennis, since some of these senators thinks that they really don’t need their jobs in the legislature, we can do them the favor and vote them out. We can put in people who are not a waste of time or taxpayers’ money.
HuH you and Denis seem to have a problem with Sen Neville James, but I do like his way of handling things at least he is for real, the rest of you would say the politically correct stuff just to get re-elected. He doesn’t have to always please constituents just do what is right. We elect them and trust them to use their best judgment on our behalf. Yes we pay their salaries but they also live in this community like the rest of us and will also be affected if the vote goes against the best interest of the people of the VI. No I’m not the good senator so don’t go writing about this being him. I am female and a 48 years old Crucian.
Good Grief that’s why a lot of us voted for him, because he was not a part of any corrupted administration. He can’t be bought like some of you. I will vote for him again and again. I agree with pissed, he is for real.
I do not believe James is ‘for real’ since he does not listen to constituents.
When we flooded his e-mail and phone to NOT vote for our sister island’s project Sirenusa, he told us to ‘back off’ and he would vote his conscience’. That is not demonstrative of listening to those who put you in office. Bu the way, Sirenusa is now a bankrupt piece of crap left unfinished on STJ. So much for looking out for the islands and possibly on the take for a vote.
If the meeting is ‘scheduled’ for the 12th, why isn’t it on the LEGIT calendar? Has James lied to us AGAIN? Will he EVER have this meeting?
http://www.legvi.org/LEGVI2008/calendar/LegislativeCalendar.pdf
Personally,I was surprised at the degree of objection there was to Adam Christian’s confirmation.Mark you,I do not know the man,but I sure knew his parents and have every reason to believe that he will make Virgin Islanders proud.And by the way,whereas many faulted him for not having answered questions he considered to be that of an attorney/client relationship,I saw that as something to be greatly admired.Trust me,Adam Christian will do well.
Sen James was on the news saying he’s moving the hearing to the 19th if I recall correctly. Some BS about the Legislature undergoing renovation.
When is the State of the Territory Address?
As you said SC you do not know the young man. He is not his parents. deWolf is not his father, and so on. Let’s stop the genetic entitlement. Adam Cristian has a lot to answer for, once the truth is told.
Please tell us the truth now. Why wait?
The truth is Adam Christian is a threat to those who want to continue to corrupt the government.Christian is too smart to be caught up with wrongdoings. He has an obligation to maintain his family’s good name.