They did not. The Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, with one abstention, voted for Mr. Matheussen’s nomination. (The full Senate approved the nomination that same day.)

Reporters asked the State Senate president, Stephen M. Sweeney, a Democrat, if Mr. Matheussen came with more ethical dents than a demolition derby hot rod.

“I’ve known John for many years, and he’s proven to be a dedicated public servant with exceptional ability,” Mr. Sweeney replied. Mr. Sweeney is well acquainted with the authority. His brother, Richard, serves as a commissioner on the Delaware River Port Authority and has received a subpoena in the federal investigation.

Which leads me to this point:

Governor Christie loves to emphasize his bipartisan credentials (It apparently was in search of bipartisan cred that his staff turned Fort Lee into a parking lot). When it comes to the southern half of the state, he is undoubtedly correct.

Governor Christie has struck a wonderfully accommodating partnership with George E. Norcross III, who is chairman of a powerful medical center in Camden and runs a politically wired insurance agency — Mr. Norcross arranged to get another insurance agency an authority contract, and it in turn gave his firm a $455,000 taste of that commission. Mr. Norcross long ago took out a lifetime mortgage on ownership of the Democratic Party in southern New Jersey.

Mr. Sweeney, a childhood friend of Mr. Norcross, is a brigadier in this organization.

Years ago, Mr. Norcross convinced Mr. Matheussen to give up his State Senate seat and become chief executive of the Delaware River Port Authority. This allowed Mr. Norcross and the Democrats to take control of the State Senate. In exchange, he worked out a deal that allowed Mr. Matheussen to keep his state pension even as he moved over to the authority, in that way quadrupling its value.

This is known as New Jersey win-win.

Which brings me to the point of this tale: “Christie’s totally fortified the boss system,” noted a prominent Republican in Trenton, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he saw no percentage in voicing such unpleasant thoughts on the record. “He’s strengthened and empowered it.”