Ashcroft Contract Leads to Justice Department Policy Review

A no-bid contract awarded to the consulting firm of former Attorney General John Ashcroft has spurred a Justice Department inquiry into its procedure for selecting outside monitors to oversee company settlements.

The 18-month contract, worth $28 million to $52 million, is between the Ashcroft Group and Zimmer Holding, a medical supply company settling accusations it paid kickbacks to doctors, the New York Times reports. Ashcroft’s company was awarded the contract at the direction of U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie of New Jersey, the story says.

There are no accusations of wrongdoing by Christie or Ashcroft, but aides to Attorney General Michael Mukasey are concerned about the appearance of favoritism. Christie also directed similar monitoring contracts last year to two other former Justice Department colleagues and to a former New Jersey attorney general, the newspaper says.