Rejected NJ Supreme Court Nominee Hired By Port Authority

An attorney who was recently rejected for a spot on New Jersey's Supreme Court has been hired by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The agency confirmed Thursday that Phillip Kwon has been hired as first deputy general counsel.

Kwon was picked in January by Gov. Chris Christie. His nomination was voted down in March by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 7-6 margin.

Democrats on the panel said they were leery of Kwon's answers to questions about the finances of his wife and mother, who co-own a liquor store in Mount Vernon, N.Y.

Kwon's mother made 222 cash deposits from store proceeds just under $10,000, the amount that would trigger closer federal scrutiny of a cash-based business. The family forfeited $160,000 to settle civil claims.

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