Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who was once a rising star in the Republican Party, only to see himself fizzle out on the national stage, was dealt one last blow to his ego Thursday — days after he was replaced by Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.
On Thursday, Christie, escorted by the state police detail he’ll have for the next six months, tried to access a special area of Newark International Airport. It’s a perk he once enjoyed during his two terms as governor, but this time, he was denied by the Transportation Security Administration. Per CBS News:
Christie tried to circumvent a TSA checkpoint at Newark Liberty International Airport Terminal C Thursday morning. Christie was with his State Police detail and attempted to enter through a special access area, located near the exit of the restricted area of the terminal.
The Port Authority says one of its officers refused to let Christie pass, telling the former governor that he is no longer allowed to use that access.
The officer escorted Christie to the regular entrance.
Christie cooperated as instructed.
A spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport, told CBS News: “Port Authority says Christie showed up at Newark Airport today with NJ State PD detail. They tried to go into the special access area where they have been going for years. A PA cop told him he was no longer allowed to use that access and they escorted him to the regular area.”
But despite the verifications, Christie was adamant that he wasn’t denied entrance.
Absolutely false story about my travel today. NJSP security detail & I were led to one entrance in the airport by PAPD officer. TSA informed PAPD and NJSP that this was the wrong way to enter and directed us to another entrance where I was screened & admitted to the airport(1/2)
— Chris Christie (@GovChristie) January 18, 2018
Neither option was the way I entered airport as Governor(wrong in the story) and PAPD officer never denied me entry at either place (also wrong in story). He was a gentleman assisting my security detail. When he got the right info he took me to the right place. Pure fiction.(2/2)
— Chris Christie (@GovChristie) January 18, 2018
One could say that the high point of Christie’s week — after the end of his political career, for now — was attending a performance of Bruce Springsteen on Broadway. Christie has always been a massive fan of the rock legend, and those feelings haven’t been mutual. The New Jersey rock star has largely shunned the New Jersey politician, and did so after Wednesday’s show.
