Gov. Chris Christie told CNN's Jake Tapper that he was accountable for the Bridgegate scandal since it happened under his watch, but he's still not responsible for it. Doesn't that make sense to you? All of his top aides and closest confidants colluded without his knowledge to dispense political retribution against Christie's opponents by shutting down the bridge, and he was clueless about what they were doing. Completely in the dark , as they say. Why should he be blamed for their actions?
Despite his sharp words for his potential opponents, whether Christie will actually pull the trigger on a run remains an open question -- and political observers have increasingly begun to question his viability in the race. Three of his former associates were hit with criminal charges related to the scandal surrounding lane closures on the George Washington Bridge this month; New Jersey's economy continues to struggle and Christie has stalled in the polls.
Christie sounded unswayed from an expected run during his Tuesday interview with Tapper. He defended his economic record as one of improvement, declaring that in New Jersey he "inherited a wrecked ship and we've now made it seaworthy," and promising to "make it even better than that" by the end of his term.
Christie also insisted that the act of political retribution from his former allies that landed them criminal charges was not evidence of a cultural issue within his administration.
"I think, unfortunately, there are going to be times when people that work for me do things that are completely out of character," he said.
The governor also said he bore no responsibility for the situation, declaring, "You can't be responsible for the bad acts of some people who wind up in your employ."
