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One of Gov. Christie’s Bodyguards Charged With Shoplifting in Pennsylvania (+video)

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Photo Credit: APOne of Governor Chris Christie’s bodyguards has suspended without pay from the New Jersey State Police, charged with shoplifting in Berks County, Pa.

A state police spokesman says that William Carvounis, 35, was assigned to the executive protection unit and had been on Christie’s security detail.

But police in Tilden Township, Pa. — north of Reading and west of Allentown — say last month the trooper stole nearly $300 in gun supplies and other merchandise from a Cabela’s sporting goods store.

Read more from this story HERE.

Chris Christie Attacks N.Y. Times, David Wildstein

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Photo Credit: APNew Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, after a low-key initial response to Friday’s explosive allegations about his involvement in a bridge-closing scandal, mounted an aggressive defense late Saturday afternoon, attacking The New York Times and a former political ally in an email to friends and allies obtained by POLITICO.

“Bottom line — David Wildstein will do and say anything to save David Wildstein,” the email from the governor’s office says, referring to the former appointee who reignited the controversy.

A letter from Wildstein’s lawyer, Alan L. Zegas of Chatham, N.J., asserted Friday that “evidence exists … tying Mr. Christie to having knowledge of the lane closures, during the period when the lanes were closed, contrary to what the Governor stated publicly in a two-hour press conference.”

The subject line of the 700-word email from the governor’s office is: “5 Things You Should Know About The Bombshell That’s Not A Bombshell.” It offers a harshly negative portrayal of Wildstein’s character and judgment.

The Christie camp begins by criticizing The Times for its initial characterization of the Wildstein letter: “A media firestorm was set off by sloppy reporting from the New York Times and their suggestion that there was actually ‘evidence’ when it was a letter alleging that ‘evidence exists.’”

Read more from this story HERE.

Claim: Evidence Exists Tying Mr. Christie to Having Knowledge of the Lane Closures (+video)

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Photo Credit: NBC NewsNew Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and the official who ordered the closing of lanes on the George Washington Bridge last year clashed Friday over precisely when Christie learned about the controversial incident.

In a letter to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (.pdf), a lawyer for David Wildstein — the Port Authority official who actually ordered the event — says “evidence exists tying Mr. Christie to having knowledge of the lane closures, during the period when the lanes were closed, contrary to what the Governor stated publicly in a two-hour press conference.”

In a statement Friday afternoon, Christie’s office said that rather than call Christie’s behavior into question, the letter “confirms what the Governor has said all along — he had absolutely no prior knowledge of the lane closures before they happened and whatever Mr. Wildstein’s motivations were for closing them to begin with.”

Christie’s statement goes on to say he denies “Mr. Wildstein’s lawyer’s other assertions,” which primarily have to do with Wildstein’s attempt to force the Port Authority to pay his legal bills.

The main disagreement appears to stem from the sequence of events.

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We Told You So: McDonnell, Christie Dumped Tea Party Long Ago

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Photo Credit: AP

Photo Credit: AP

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell were the first victors in the Tea Party wave, riding fresh conservative enthusiasm–and outrage over Obamacare–to victory in November 2009. The left, predictably, is trying to link Christie’s bullying scandal and McDonnell’s corruption indictment to that Tea Party support. The truth, however, is that they dumped their Tea Party principles and supporters long ago.

There were several minor scuffles between these governors and the conservative grass roots, including a fight over some of Christie’s judicial appointments, and McDonnell’s tax hikes. Yet the major falling-out occurred over Obamacare–specifically, the decision of these two governors (among others) to renege on their promises not to expand Medicaid in accordance with the Affordable Care Act (and its generous federal handouts).

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Chris Christie: ‘I Don’t Know’ When Scandal Ends

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Photo Credit: AP

Photo Credit: AP

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was warmly received at a private event in Florida Sunday on his first major political outing since a traffic scandal hit his administration, attendees told POLITICO — but he said he didn’t know when the so-called “Bridgegate” controversy would end.

The Republican and prospective 2016 presidential candidate faced only one question about the scandal — and when it might subside — during the private event, said host and Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone.

“He said, ‘I don’t know,’” Langone said. “‘But as far as I’m concerned, I did what I can do, with great apologies and embarrassment.”

“I did the one thing I had to do,” Christie said, according to Langone. “I fired them. What else can I do?”

The governor ousted one aide earlier this month and distanced himself from another after documents surfaced showing his aides and allies were involved in orchestrating a September traffic mess near the George Washington Bridge that is at the heart of the controversy. The governor has denied any direct involvement in the fiasco, blaming wayward aides. He also apologized publicly and vowed to cooperate with “appropriate” investigations, as well as do an internal review.

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NJ Mayor: Christie Withheld Sandy Funds as Political Payback

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Photo Credit: Getty Images

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The mayor of Hoboken, N.J., is accusing Gov. Chris Christie’s administration of withholding Superstorm Sandy relief money from her city after she refused to approve a redevelopment project he favored.

Mayor Dawn Zimmer, appearing Saturday on MSNBC’s “Up With Steve Kornacki,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Richard Constable, Christie’s community affairs commissioner, delivered messages from the governor early last year to warn her that the relief money would be blocked if the project wasn’t approved.

Zimmer, a Democrat who has been supportive of Republican Christie, did not approve the project.

And when she requested $127 million in hurricane relief to help in Hoboken’s rebuilding efforts in the wake of Sandy, which left the city 80 percent under water in October 2012, the city got a mere $142,000 to cover a backup generator and $200,000 in recovery grants.

“The bottom line is, it’s not fair for the governor to hold Sandy funds hostage for the city of Hoboken because he wants me to give back to one private developer,” Zimmer said Saturday.

Read more from this story HERE.

Gov. Christie in State of State Address: ‘I Am Ultimately Responsible’

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Photo Credit: AP/Ross D. Franklin

Photo Credit: AP/Ross D. Franklin

Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in his State of the State Address on Tuesday addressed the Bridgegate scandal plaguing his administration, saying he is responsible for what happens on his watch – “both good and bad” – and pledged to “cooperate with all inquiries to ensure that this breach of trust does not happen again.”

“The last week has certainly tested this administration. Mistakes were clearly made. We let down the people we’re entrusted to serve. I know our citizens deserve better, much better. I’m the governor, and I am ultimately responsible for all that happens on my watch – both good and bad. Now without a doubt, we will cooperate with all appropriate inquiries to ensure that this breach of trust does not happen again,” Christie said.

Christie’s comments come on the heels of recent accusations that in September, his administration closed down two of three lanes leading to the George Washington Memorial Bridge in Fort Lee, N.J., in an act of political retribution against the town’s mayor for refusing to endorse Christie.

Read more from this story HERE.

Feds Investigate Christie’s Use of Sandy Relief Funds (+video)

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Photo Credit: AP

Photo Credit: AP

Just days after dismissing two top advisers for their roles in the George Washington Bridge scandal, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie faced questions over the use of Superstorm Sandy relief funds.

CNN has learned that federal officials are investigating whether Christie improperly used some of that money to produce tourism ads that starred him and his family.

The news couldn’t come at a worse time for the embattled Republican, who is facing two probes in New Jersey of whether his staff orchestrated traffic gridlock near the country’s busiest bridge to punish a Democratic mayor who refused to endorse his re-election.

If the Sandy inquiry by a watchdog finds any wrongdoing, it could prove even more damaging to Christie’s national ambitions. He’s considered a possible presidential candidate in 2016.

Read more from this story HERE.

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Photo Credit: WND

Photo Credit: WND

Media slam Christie, but ignore Obama

By Bob Unruh.

Forget the fact that the Obamacare Spanish-language website apparently was written in “Spanglish,” or that the Oregon state site is, ahem, not quite operational.

And you can overlook the issue that the IRS, revealed to have been targeting conservative organizations, has proposed rules to make that the regular practice. And Fast & Furious, and Benghazi, and NSA spying, and Solyndra, and on, and on.

What appears to be important is that a Republican is involved in a scandal. No. Two scandals!

The Media Research Center reported late last week just after the news broke that aides to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a presumptive front-runner for the 2016 GOP nomination for president, apparently were involved in a traffic scandal, there had been 17 times more coverage on that issue than in the last half year over the IRS misbehavior.

The organization reported that the story broke Wednesday and accused the governor’s aides of punishing a mayor with a huge traffic jam after he refused to endorse Christie.

Read more from this story HERE.

‘Impeachment’? Dems Escalate NJ Bridge Probe, While Some Defend Christie

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Photo Credit: Fox News

Photo Credit: Fox News

Democrats sharpened their swords Sunday over the New Jersey bridge scandal, with one state lawmaker suggesting impeachment is an option for Gov. Chris Christie — even as other prominent politicos said they were inclined to believe the governor’s side of the story.

Christie on Thursday apologized for lane closures last fall that snarled traffic on the George Washington Bridge, after emails surfaced showing the closures were pushed by his associates as an apparent act of political revenge. The governor said he was “embarrassed” but insisted he had nothing to do with the incident.

The Republican governor, considered a possible 2016 presidential candidate, on Sunday earned the benefit of the doubt from some unexpected corners. Former Obama White House adviser David Plouffe, on ABC’s “This Week,” said his sense is Christie wouldn’t have been so strong in his denials if he knew what was happening.

But New Jersey Assemblyman John Wisniewski, chairman of the legislative panel probing the closures, cast doubt on the governor’s claims in an interview with Fox News. “It’s hard to believe in the middle of a gubernatorial election that the governor didn’t have a conversation with somebody on his senior staff about a big problem in Fort Lee,” he said.

Read more from this story HERE.

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Photo Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Photo Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

N.J. Lawmaker: It Could Be Grounds For Impeachment If Christie Knew About GWB Closures

By CBSNewYork.

The New Jersey lawmaker heading up the state investigation into the George Washington Bridge lane closures has raised the possibility of impeachment if the probe uncovers ties to Gov. Chris Christie.

As WCBS 880’s Jim Smith reported Sunday, despite all the e-mails, apologies and firings, state Assembly Transportation Committee Chairman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) said it is still early in the investigation.

He appeared Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

“We’re not only going to need testimony,” he said. “We’re going to need documents, and so we have a lot more work ahead of us.”

Wisniewski said the committee is planning to issue more subpoenas – possibly this week – which could include Christie spokesman Michael Druniac and the now-fired Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Kelly.

Read more from this story HERE.

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Photo Credit: Rich McCormack/For The Jersey Journal

Photo Credit: Rich McCormack/For The Jersey Journal

‘Christie has blood on his hands,’ ‘Political terrorism’: with protest signs like these, NJ ‘Peace’ Group might have wanted bigger crowd

By Dave Urbanski.

A group that espouses “peace, truth, justice” arrived at the protest site carrying signs that clearly stated their no-holds-barred anger at New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: “Political Terrorism” and “Christie Has Blood on His Hands” among others.

As the storm of the “bridgegate” controversy gathered strength, members of the Jersey City Peace Movement rallied in front of the PATH station in Jersey City’s Journal Square Friday evening.

Read more from this story HERE.

New Scandal, Same Old Christie

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Photo Credit: National Review

Photo Credit: National Review

After swiftly dismissing a top official in his administration, Chris Christie was characteristically caustic when pressed by the press for the lesson to be drawn from the scandal: “Don’t lie to the governor.”

But that was then — three years ago. This week, the raging bull turned sad puppy for two hours of bravura contrition after cashiering yet another top aide who, he says, lied to him. It is a different time, and this is a very different scandal. Yet, I can’t help suspecting it’s the same old Christie.

Back in 2010, it was Bret Schundler, Christie’s education chief, who was shown the door after purportedly deceiving the boss. The controversy that led to Schundler’s abrupt termination was considerably drier than the “Bridgegate” scandal currently engulfing the governor — the former was just run-of-the-mill governmental bungling, as the Bergen Record relates.

New Jersey had failed to qualify for federal “Race to the Top” education funds, falling a measly three points short of the 500-point threshold prescribed by an abstruse Washington formula. The amount of money involved was enormous, $400 million. But in a country where trillion is the new billion, that’s a few digits shy of grabbing the public’s attention. Plus, Christie — just hitting his stride, his eccentric brand of tough-guy bipartisanship not yet stale — was not then a national figure. So the fact that the Garden State lost out because its application omitted two years of budget data (a five-point penalty!) was big news in Trenton, but nowhere else.

This past September’s bumper-to-bumper snarls are quite another matter. They hit New Jerseyans where we live much of the time: on our derrieres, behind the wheel hours on end, crawling tortoise-like from place to place — especially when one of those places is the Big Apple. So the ongoing scandal is about traffic . . . but, of course, it’s juicier than that. It’s about hellacious traffic jams that were willfully manufactured — much as that may sound like a coals-to-Newcastle errand. It’s about Christie’s administration maliciously slamming already beleaguered commuters — and, worse, subjecting police, fire departments, emergency medical teams, school buses, and small-business merchants to withering gridlock — as payback against at least one recalcitrant Democratic mayor.

Read more from this story HERE.