Chris Christie: Trump's "Hyberbolic" Salesman Style Could Land Him In Jail

Donald Trump's former butt boy (and former New Jersey governor) Chris Christie told a panel on ABC’s “This Week" this morning that Donald Trump's "hyperbolic" salesman style would not play well should he agree to give testimony to FBI agents.

“One of the things that makes the president who he is is that he’s a salesman, and salesmen at times tend to be hyperbolic,” Christie said.

“That’s OK when you’re working on Congress. It is not OK when you’re sitting talking to federal agents because, 18 U.S. C 1001 is false statements to federal agents, that’s a crime, that can send you to jail.”

Christie also offered that the Trumpeter should never “walk into that room with” Mueller.

Christie also called the Trump transition team "brutally unprofessional."

Watch below.

Fmr. Gov. @ChrisChristie tells @GStephanopoulos Pres. Trump should not meet with Special Counsel Mueller: "He's a salesman, and salesmen at times tend to be hyperbolic... That’s ok when you’re working on Congress. It is not ok when you’re sitting talking to federal agents." pic.twitter.com/saiGHUCbT9

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) April 1, 2018

With new ethics concerns over EPA Admin. Scott Pruitt, @ChrisChristie says: "This was a brutally unprofessional transition. This was a transition that didn’t vet people for this type of judgment issues… If Mr. Pruitt’s going to go, it’s because he never should’ve been there.” pic.twitter.com/ShKYt9bpN4

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) April 1, 2018

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Bans "Bump Stocks" On Last Day In Office

Gov. Chris Christie

Color me surprised by outoing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

From NJ.com:

New Jersey has now banned “bump stocks,” controversial firearm accessories allegedly used by the shooter in last year’s Las Vegas massacre.

The devices can be affixed to semiautomatic rifles to allow them to fire bullets, mimicking automatic weapons.

But under the new law — which takes effect immediately — anyone who owns one has 90 days to surrender them to authorities. Retailers have 30 days.

Christie, a Republican, signed the law even though he has long opposed new gun-control measures in the state.

Bannon: No Cabinet Position For Christie Due To Lack Of Support Over "Grab'em By The Pussy" Video

In his 60 Minutes interview with Charlie Rose last night, former White House strategist Steve Bannon admits NJ Gov. Chris Christie was taken out of contention for a cabinet post for not standing by Donald Trump when the now infamous "Grab 'em by the pussy" video surfaced.

“Christie, because of Billy Bush weekend, was not looked at for a cabinet position,” Bannon said in an interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes” that aired Thursday. “I told him the plane leaves at 11-o-clock in the morning. If you make the plane, you make the team. He didn’t make the plane.”

Watch below.

“[New Jersey Gov.] Christie, because of Billy Bush weekend, was not looked at for a Cabinet position,” Steve Bannon tells @CharlieRose pic.twitter.com/zgKbpOfAiJ

— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 8, 2017

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Soaks Up Rays With Family On Closed State Beach

This past Saturday, incredibly unpopular New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (only 15% of NJ approves of the job he's doing) ordered a shut down of the state government due to a budget impasse with the Democratic controlled legislature.

The shutdown included all state parks and beaches during the July 4 weekend. The shutdown is only the second in the state's history.

According to reports, even a 25 member Cub Scout pack was ejected from a state park.

Christie’s administration has been ruthless about enforcement, kicking out a Cub Scout Pack with 25 kids from a state park.

But Christie was busted when he and his family were photographed soaking up the sun on Island Beach State Park.

On Sunday, he told reporters he "didn't get any sun" on Saturday.

“I didn’t. I didn’t get any sun today,” Christie said.

When the pesky, inconvenient photos were brought up to a Christie spokesman, the reply was twisted into explaining that Christie “did not get any sun” because he “had a baseball hat on.”

Asked if this is fair, Christie said Saturday: "Run for governor, and you can have a residence there."

Chris Christie & guests enjoying NJ beach — after he ordered state beaches closed to the public over a budget fight https://t.co/aD3pkhT4vF pic.twitter.com/JkAh31BG08

— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) July 2, 2017

"Damn, man, I'm governor! Could you shut up for a second" - Chris Christie to NJ citizen, March 2012. pic.twitter.com/lNeO1UnKDc

— Joshua Zeitz (@JoshuaMZeitz) July 2, 2017

Sure, @ChrisChristie. Let's shut down NJ during one of the busiest tourist weekends. Thanks from all of us at the Shore. #njshutdown pic.twitter.com/FSi3KzsXNG

— Brigid Fitch (@Brigid_Fitch) July 1, 2017

News Round-Up: June 14, 2017

Tyson Beckford

Some news items you might have missed:

• International super model (and current celebrity host at Chippendales in Las Vegas) Tyson Beckford covers Vegas Magazine

• Fox News is dropping it's woefully inaccurate slogan, "Fair & Balanced." #AboutTime

• New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has broken the record for the worst approval rating (only 15% approval) for any governor in any state surveyed by Quinnipiac University in more than 20 years.

• Terrific article by Matt Baume about the emergence, history and evolution of Queer Proms over the past 20 years. #GreatRead

• Investigators have found evidence of attempted Russian cyber-hacking by in 39 states' voting software and data.

• Check out Raúl Castillo, before his Looking role on HBO, in the short film 2012 Kiss Me where he played Kid Vargas, a boxer with a secret.

Chris Christie: Trump's Loyalty Demands Are Just "Normal New York City Conversation"

During an appearance on MSNBC last night, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told host Nicole Wallace regarding Trump's unorthodox communications, “What you’re seeing is a president who is now very publicly learning about the way people react to what he considers to be normal New York City conversation.”

That sounds like Christie thinks Trump should get a break for doing things considered very, very inappropriate for a president.

Immediately "normal New York City conversation" began trending on Twitter.

Former Aide Testifies Gov. Christie Knew About Bridge Closings In Advance

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

Bridget Kelly, a former top aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, testified in court today that the governor knew about planned bridge closings in August of 2013 a month before they occurred.

Via NPR.org:

Kelly is on trial for federal charges that range from conspiracy to wire fraud. She's the author of the infamous email about the September 2013 lane closures on the George Washington Bridge, and her message in that email — "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee" — has been seen as proof that the closures of crucial roads leading into New York City weren't just a mishap of planning, but an attempt to punish Fort Lee's mayor for not endorsing Christie during his re-election campaign.

Kelly, who was fired as Christie's deputy chief of staff in the fallout from the scandal, testified on her own behalf Friday, saying Christie had consented to the Port Authority's plan to shut down the roads for four days — a plan that not only ruined commuters' trips but also frustrated ambulances' attempts to transport patients.

Today, Kelly gave new details about the scandal, and about Christie's behavior. Via Twitter, Andrea Bernstein of member station WNYC reports that under questioning by her defense attorney, Kelly testified:

• That she told Christie about the closings one month before they occurred, and that they were expected to cause "tremendous" problems;

• That Christie's main response was to ask "What's our relationship with Mayor Sokolich?" — referring to Mayor Mark Sokolich of Fort Lee;

• That Kelly also talked with Christie about Mayor Sokolich's public safety complaints over the closures while traffic was still snarled;

•That during a meeting in Seaside Heights, Christie flew into a rage over being asked by Kelly to introduce people, and asked her, "What do you think I am, a ****ing game show host?" Kelly was in tears as she said Christie then threw a water bottle at her that struck her in the arm.

Gov. Christie has maintained he knew nothing about the bridge closings.

Christie, a high-level Donald Trump advisor,  has been noticeably absent from the presidential campaign for some time now.

Federal Prosecutors: Chris Christie Knew About Washington Bridge Closings

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

Federal prosecutors told jurors today that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie knew about the Washington Bridge closings back in 2013 for political payback.

Via Politico:

Gov. Chris Christie was told of the George Washington Bridge lane closures as they were occurring in 2013, a federal prosecutor told jurors on Monday in U.S. District Court.

David Wildstein, who has already pleaded guilty to playing a role in the incident, and Bill Baroni, who is now on trial for his alleged role in the scheme, “bragged” about the traffic gridlock that lane closures were causing when they spoke with the Republican governor at a Sept. 11 memorial in Lower Manhattan, Assistant U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna said.

The two Christie-appointed former Port Authority officials mentioned the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, Mark Sokolich, whom they are accused to trying to punish after he refused to endorse Christie’s reelection campaign, the prosecutor said.

“The evidence will show that Baroni and Wildstein were so committed to their plan that, during the precious moments they had alone with the governor, they bragged about the fact that there were traffic problems in Fort Lee and that Mayor Sokolich was not getting his calls returned,” Khanna told jurors during his opening remarks on Monday morning.

Khanna did not elaborate on what was allegedly said during the conversation with Christie, but told jurors that “evidence in this case may show that others could have, should have, perhaps knew certain aspects of what was going on.”

Baroni, the former deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie’s former deputy chief of staff, were indicted last May on charges of conspiracy, fraud and civil rights violations.

Christie is currently a top advisor to Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

Former Chris Christie Aide: "He Flat Out Lied" About BridgeGate

The Hill is reporting that a former aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie texted a colleague in 2013 that the governor lied about

Christine Renna, who worked under Christie’s deputy chief of staff, made the claim in a text message to Peter Sheridan, a Christie campaign aide in 2013.

The text was sent during a 2013 press conference in which the governor denied that his administration was involved in lane closures on the George Washington Bridge.

The text message was released Wednesday in a new court filing, first reported by NorthJersey.com and posted online by Politico, in the case against Bill Baroni, a former Port Authority official, and Christie’s former deputy chief of staff Bridget Anne Kelly over the closures.

“Are you listening? He just flat out lied about senior staff and [former deputy chief of staff Bill] Stepien not being involved,” Renna said in the text sent on Dec. 13, 2013, according to a transcript.

“I’m listening,” Sheridan replied. “Gov is doing fine. Holding his own up there.”

“Yes. But he lied,” Renna texted back. “And if emails are found with the subpoena or [campaign] emails are uncovered in discovery if it comes to that it could be bad.”

Renna later deleted the text messages.

Christie's campaign manager was fired a month after that press conference when it was found he knew about the lane closings.

Gov. Chris Christie Doesn't Like "Coming In Second. Ever."

"Hahahaha, that's so funny. Tell me another one, sir."

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is ok letting folks know he really, really did want to be Donald Trump's VP pick.  Even if he's not.

From Politico:

“Listen, no matter what phone call he makes to me today, I will take a deep breath and prepare for tomorrow,” Christie told MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace in an interview from Mendham, New Jersey.

“I’m a competitive person, so I’m not gonna say it won’t bother me if I’m not selected,” Christie continued.

“Of course it bothers you a little bit, because if you’re a competitive person like I am and you’re used to winning like I am, again, you don’t like coming in second. Ever.”

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie On Donald Trump's VP List

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (L) with presumptive GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump

Well, you saw this coming.

Even though they ran against each other in the GOP primary, Donald Trump and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have been long-time friends. Christie was one of the very first to jump behind Trump as the presumptive Republican presidential candidate.

Political insiders have speculated Christie has been angling for some prominent Cabinet position in a possible Trump administration. In addition to veep, folks have pondered an Attorney General appointment.

From the New York Times:

Mr. Christie is among those being vetted as Mr. Trump’s possible running mate, according to people briefed on the process, and Mr. Trump has said in interviews that Mr. Christie would have a prominent place in a Trump White House.

Already, Mr. Christie has begun the task of designing a government on Mr. Trump’s behalf. Tapped to lead Mr. Trump’s transition efforts, Mr. Christie has taken a role that some of his allies liken to that of a White House chief of staff, soliciting views on what a potential Trump administration should look like.

Mr. Christie has taken the transition process firmly in hand, according to people familiar with his activities, which have been kept from public view so far. He has enlisted his former top aide in Trenton, Richard H. Bagger, to help manage the transition team.

Behind the scenes, Mr. Christie has prodded his fellow governors and Republican political donors to line up behind a candidate many view with distaste. He has made only modest headway in the last few months: Mr. Trump has struggled badly with fund-raising and Mr. Christie has pleaded with donors, in personal phone calls and fund-raising events, to give him a second look.

SNL Cold Open: Donald Trump & Chris Christie On The Hunt For A VP

Darrell Hammond as "Donald Trump" and Bobby Moynihan as "Christ Christie" on SNL

Touching briefly on Donald Trump's new "John Miller" debacle, SNL's cold open last night focused on "Gov. Chris Christie" (Bobby Moynihan) helping "Donald Trump" (Darrell Hammond) choose a running mate.

Not sure this was the funniest cold open I've seen on SNL. Thoughts?

Chris Christie: I'm Not Being Held Hostage By Trump

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie addressed reporters today about his now infamous facial expressions standing behind Donald Trump on Super Tuesday.

"No, I wasn't being held hostage. No, I wasn't sitting up there thinking, 'What have I done?'"

Christie also addressed calls for him to resign as governor saying he plans on staying in office for the entirety of his term until 2018.

Is Chris Christie Comfortable Being "The Man Behind Trump?"

Easily the most uncomfortable scene from last night's Super Tuesday was watching New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie stand behind Donald Trump at his press event for what seemed like an eternity.

Christie's face and eyes seemed to tell their own story as he watched from behind the Trumpster. You have to wonder if Christie has reconsidered the price he paid by endorsing Trump.

From CNN:

The New Jersey governor, who endorsed Trump on Friday, introduced the real estate mogul during a Super Tuesday press conference. But as Trump began speaking, people couldn't stop talking about the look on Christie's face.

It's been a bumpy road for Christie ever since he endorsed Trump last week. Seconds after Christie finished proclaiming his support, Trump ordered him to "get on the plane and go home," an awkward exchange that was caught on camera and quickly spread around the Internet.

Alexandra Petra of the Washington Post may have captured it best when she wrote about Christie's "Wordless Screaming."

In related Christie news, 6 New Jersey newspapers have publicly called for Christie to resign as governor.

so has anyone checked to see if Christie was blinking in Morse code last night?

— Tom Tomorrow (@tomtomorrow) March 2, 2016

https://t.co/SxcpUxkL45

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) March 2, 2016

New York Daily News On Chris Christie Endorsement Of Donald Trump

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Endorses Donald Trump

BREAKING: NJ Gov. Chris Christie: "I am proud to be here to endorse Donald Trump for president of the United States” https://t.co/A4QHuJbrIM

— Good Morning America (@GMA) February 26, 2016

At this point, does anyone care?

I'm guessing Gov. Christie is looking for the Attorney General spot in a Trump administration...?

Majority Of New Jersey Residents Feel Christie Should Resign

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

A new Monmouth University poll shows New Jersey residents think newly announced GOP presidential candidate and current NJ Gov. Chris Christie has abandoned their state (56 percent to 35 percent) and that he should resign.

Even worse, a solid majority (57 percent to 37 percent) believe he should resign because he is now campaigning for office.

A whopping 71% said Christie could not effectively govern the state well while running for the presidency.

Chris Christie Looking All Presidential And Stuff

Man, if this doesn't scream Commander In Chief of the world's super power, I don't know what does...

(via kenneth in the 212)

New Jersey: Gov. Christie Appointee Pleads Guilty In Bridge Closing

Chris Christie ally pleads guilty in Bridgegate case http://t.co/0sI6Xh1Fjl

— HuffPost Politics (@HuffPostPol) May 1, 2015

David Wildstein, former Port Authority official, has pled guilty to federal charges for his role in causing huge traffic issues at the Washington Bridge as retribution against a small town mayor who refused to endorse Gov. Chris Christie for reelection.

This comes after a 16 month federal investigation.

Wildstein was an appointee of Christie and former close ally.

From Mother Jones:

The guilty plea, from comes as federal prosecutors prepare to indict two others close to Christie for their roles in the incident—and as Christie prepares to make a bid for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. A New Jersey judge will unseal those indictments on Friday, the New York Times reports.

Wildstein's plea and the looming indictments are a result of a 16-month federal investigation into the George Washington Bridge scandal. In September 2013, Port Authority officials shut down several access lanes in the town of Fort Lee, New Jersey, setting off a mammoth traffic jam that lasted three days. Christie's office denied involvement. But the following January, a judge released texts and emails suggesting that Christie's inner circle masterminded the traffic debacle as political payback against Fort Lee's Democratic mayor.

Wildstein ordered the lane closures that led to the traffic jam. The Port Authority official, who went to high school with Christie, was described as the governor's "eyes and ears" inside the agency. But after the bridge scandal burst into public view, Christie sought to distance himself from Wildstein. Wildstein resigned his Port Authority position in December.

The messages released in January revealed that Bridget Anne Kelly, a top aide in Christie's administration, had also helped order the lane closures. The day of the traffic jam, Kelly wrote to Wildstein: "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee." "Got it," Wildstein replied. Christie has repeatedly denied having any prior knowledge of the lane closures.

News Round-Up: April 18, 2015

News items you may have missed:

• At this point we all know to act right when sitting in the audience of a Patti LuPone performance. Well, everyone except this woman.

• Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the first gay protest. Bow in respect, please.

• Hollywood legend Rock Hudson's former boyfriend recently spoke on how the couple kept their gay life secret.

• Jonathan Groff, star of HBO's LOOKING, admits there was a time he was so closeted he couldn't be in public with his boyfriend. Not even when he was nominated for a Tony Award.

• Jeb Bush and NJ Gov. Christ Christie want to raise the retirement age for Social Security

• Conan shows you how Hillary Clinton is just like the rest of us