Christie brushes off 'beachgate' saga during New Jersey shutdown
Source: Reuters
Mon Jul 3, 2017 | 2:23pm EDT
By Elinor Comlay | ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie brushed off criticism on Monday after he was caught on camera taking a break from dealing with a government shutdown to lounge on a state beach that was closed to the public during the July Fourth holiday weekend.
When a morning TV show host said he could understand why people were upset by photos taken by a local newspaper that showed Christie and his family sunbathing on an empty beach, Christie responded, "Well, I'm sorry, they're not the governor," referring to the governor's residence at the state park.
The Republican governor was already the least popular governor in modern New Jersey history, and the publication of the photos triggered mockery from critics online, some of whom posted spoof images of Christie kicking back in a beach chair in a wide range of locations, including the Oval Office.
The saga, dubbed "beachgate" by some local news media, threw a spotlight on stalled budget negotiations that have caused partial government shutdowns in New Jersey and in Maine, and led to the suspension of many nonessential services. That included New Jersey's state parks, which closed on Saturday, forcing many to alter their holiday weekend plans. More than 30,000 state workers were on furlough on Monday.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-shutdowns-idUSKBN19O1U0
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