Christie news conference

Christie apologized, fired an aide and said he would go to Fort Lee to talk to residents. Here’s the latest:

3rd & 7 37yd

by CNN's Ashley Killough 1/9/2014 4:06:47 PM
From: CNN's Paul Steinhauser and Steve Brusk

It seems New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie didn't need the backing of Democratic Mayor Mark Sokolich of Fort Lee after all.

Christie carried Fort Lee in his landslide re-election victory last November over little known Democratic state Sen. Barbara Buono. According to election results on the Bergen County Clerk's website, the Republican governor and likely 2016 GOP presidential contender grabbed 3,735 votes in Fort Lee, to Buono's 2,941. Democratic voters greatly outnumber their Republican counterparts in the borough.
by Erin McPike via twitter 1/9/2014 4:07:00 PM
David Wildstein will appear at the noon hearing. His request to avoid it was denied.
by CNN's Ashley Killough 1/9/2014 4:08:11 PM
Christie says he comes out here today to "apologize to the people of New Jersey" as well as the people of Fort Lee. "I am embarrassed and humility by the conduct of some of the people on my team."
by Michelle Jaconi via twitter 1/9/2014 4:08:19 PM
"I apologize" - @GovChristie repeats it three times to start the presser.
by CNN's Ashley Killough 1/9/2014 4:08:36 PM
His team showed a lack of respect for government and the voters, Christie says.
by Jake Tapper via twitter 1/9/2014 4:08:37 PM
Christie fired deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly and state GOP head Bill Stepian
by New Day via twitter 1/9/2014 4:09:01 PM
'I have come here today to apologize. I'm embarassed & humiliated by the conduct by some of people on my team' @GovChristie speaking @CNN
by CNN Politics via twitter 1/9/2014 4:09:01 PM
Gov. Christie: I come out here to apologize to the people of New Jersey. #GWBridge News conference LIVE now on CNN.
by cnnbrk via twitter 1/9/2014 4:09:06 PM
At news conference, Gov. Christie apologizes to people of New Jersey. cnn.it/1ks5YpY
by CNN's Ashley Killough 1/9/2014 4:09:14 PM
"I also need to apologize to them for my failure as the governor of the state to understand the nature of this problem sooner than I did."
by Midwin Charles via twitter 1/9/2014 4:09:55 PM
Chris Christie speaking now on #bridgegate ; I'm on @CNN to discuss. Do you think Christie's apology is sincere?
by cnnbrk via twitter 1/9/2014 4:09:56 PM
Gov. Christie said he's "embarrassed," "humiliated" by some members of his staff. cnn.it/1ks5YpY
by CNN Politics via twitter 1/9/2014 4:09:59 PM
Gov. Christie: I am embarrassed and humiliated by the conduct of some people on my team. #gwbridge
by CNN's Ashley Killough 1/9/2014 4:10:07 PM
Christie says he terminated his deputy chief of staff Bridget Anne Kelly, who helped orchestrate the move to close access lanes to the George Washington Bridge.
by CNN's Ashley Killough 1/9/2014 4:11:40 PM
Christie says the emails he saw Wednesday for the first time proved that his staff had lied to him. "There's no justification for that behavior."
Carol Costello CNN

Chris Christie: "I apologize to people of New Jersey....I am embarrassed and humiliated..."

9 January 2014
by CNN's Ashley Killough 1/9/2014 4:13:00 PM
Christie says he will continue to have personal one-on-one discussions with remaining members of his senior staff to determine if there's any other information he needs to know. He's not done with the interviews yet, but when he's finished he says he will disclose additional information and make personnel changes, if needed.
by cnnbrk via twitter 1/9/2014 4:13:16 PM
Gov. Christie fired Bridget Anne Kelly, deputy chief of staff "because she lied to me." cnn.it/1ks5YpY
by CNN's Ashley Killough 1/9/2014 4:13:16 PM
"I am heartbroken" that a member of his staff "betrayed my trust."
by CNN's Ashley Killough 1/9/2014 4:14:50 PM
Christie says he promised when he was elected he would be the best governor, but he didn't promise to be perfect.
by cnnbrk via twitter 1/9/2014 4:15:18 PM
Gov Christie: "I am responsible for what happened" over lane closure controversy.. "We fell short." cnn.it/1ks5YpY
by Jason Seher via twitter 1/9/2014 4:15:52 PM
Christie to @jaketapper on Election Day: "Don't be so cute. And when you make a mistake, admit it." | cnn.it/1dyQqYA
by CNN's Ashley Killough 1/9/2014 4:16:30 PM
Christie says he was "disturbed" by the tone of the emails released Wednesday. "It made me lose my confidence in Bill (Stepien's) judgement," he said. "I've instructed Bill Stepien to not place his name in nomination for state party chairman...and I've constructed him to withdraw his consultancy with the Republican Governors Association."

CNN's Peter Hamby reports: Stepien has been a big deal in Christie's world. He was a two-time Christie campaign manager and was just this week nominated by Christie to be the next New Jersey GOP Chairman. He was also recently appointed as an adviser to the RGA.
by Steve Brusk via twitter 1/9/2014 4:17:00 PM
Christie says he's lost confidence in Bill Stepien, he will not become state GOP chair or head of his politcal operation.
by CNN Politics via twitter 1/9/2014 4:17:56 PM
Gov. Christie fires top aide Bridget Anne Kelly "because she lied to me." #gwbridge cnn.it/1ks5YpY
by LisaMCNN via twitter 1/9/2014 4:18:00 PM
Christie: Ultimately I am responsible for what happens under my watch - good or bad. When mistakes made, I have to own up to them. #CNN
by Jake Tapper via twitter 1/9/2014 4:18:07 PM
Christie: "I was blindsided yesterday morning." Yesterday reports "first time I knew about this."
by cnnbrk via twitter 1/9/2014 4:18:19 PM
Christie, speaking of lane closure controversy: "When mistakes are made, then I have to own up to them." cnn.it/1ks5YpY
by Brooke Baldwin via twitter 1/9/2014 4:18:38 PM
Gov. Christie: "I was blindsided yesterday morning." #CNN
by Jim Acosta via twitter 1/9/2014 4:18:59 PM
Christie: "I was blind-sided... first time I had seen any of the documents" related to GWB lane closings.
by Michelle Jaconi via twitter 1/9/2014 4:19:20 PM
"Blindsided." - @GovChristie describing himself yesterday. @RoyPeterClark are you watching? Christie has his own brand of political diction.
by cnnbrk via twitter 1/9/2014 4:19:24 PM
Gov. Christie: "I was blindsided yesterday morning." cnn.it/1ks5YpY
by CNN's Ashley Killough 1/9/2014 4:19:26 PM
Christie says he's going to go to Fort Lee today and apologize to the mayor in person.
by Jake Tapper via twitter 1/9/2014 4:19:56 PM
christie heading to Fort Lee to apologize to mayor and citizens. says "this is not the tone" he's set in NJ
by CNN Politics via twitter 1/9/2014 4:20:06 PM
Gov. Christie says he was blindsided, is "responsible for what happens under my watch, good or bad." #gwbridge cnn.it/19VdhlT
by jim sciutto via twitter 1/9/2014 4:20:12 PM
A big question with #Christie is how much an elected leader is responsible for the wrongdoing of his closest aides. Thoughts?
by Jake Tapper via twitter 1/9/2014 4:20:25 PM
christie heading to Fort Lee to apologize to mayor and citizens. says "this is not the tone" he's set in NJ
by CNN's Ashley Killough 1/9/2014 4:20:33 PM
Watch Wolf Blitzer's interview with Mayor Mark Sokolich of Fort Lee.

"As this story continues and as things begin to unravel, with emails, the actions of counterparts, resignations, engagement of defense counsel, that position becomes more and more difficult to understand, more and more difficult to comprehend, and quite frankly more and more difficult to believe," the mayor said.
by Vaughn Sterling via twitter 1/9/2014 4:20:52 PM
CHRISTIE: "Later today I'm going to Fort Lee" to apologize to the Mayor and the people of those communities
by CNN's Ashley Killough 1/9/2014 4:21:23 PM
Republican reaction (before the press conference):

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida:

After telling CNN’s Kate Bolduan that he didn’t think it would be “fair for me to comment on something I have no involvement in,” Rubio said he thinks we should allow the investigation process to move on.

“I think what we should do, for those of us who are watching this, is allow that process to move forward,” he said. “I understand that legislature there is looking at it, but I am just not going to comment on something that I know nothing about.”

“I think we should let this thing play forward and I think it would be fair to all sides to let this play forward,” Rubio said. “That, I think, is the right approach.”
by Mark Preston via twitter 1/9/2014 4:21:32 PM
Brilliant political move by Christie by saying he will go to Ft. Lee to apologize to the mayor. Taking the club from the opponents hand.
by Jake Tapper via twitter 1/9/2014 4:21:35 PM
US atty in NJ says Port Authority OIG referred case + "our office is reviewing the matter to determine whether a fed. law was implicated.”
by JenScogginsCNN via twitter 1/9/2014 4:22:11 PM
SOKOLICH to @wolfblitzer : I have a prediction. You'll have a resignation or two... from @CNNSitRoom intv.
by CNN's Ashley Killough 1/9/2014 4:22:26 PM
Christie maintains he had "no knowledge or involvement" in the issue. "I am stunned by the abject stupidity that was shown here regardless of what the facts ultimately uncover. This was handled in a callous and indifferent way."
by cnnbrk via twitter 1/9/2014 4:22:29 PM
Christie said he intends to go to Fort Lee, N.J. and apologize to the mayor, citizens. cnn.it/1ks5YpY

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