N.J. Gov. Chris Christie target of new federal investigation

New Jersey Governor and ex officio University trustee Chris Christie and members of his administration are the targets of a new investigation by federal prosecutors, the International Business Times reported on Thursday.

The Governor’s Office did not respond to a request for comment.

The charges were brought after former Hunterdon County Assistant Prosecutor Bennett Barlyn was allegedly fired shortly aftervoicing objections to the decision of his superiors to dismiss his investigations into and indictments against political allies of Christie.

Barlyn filed a whistle-blower lawsuit and has told media outlets that he was given no reason for the dismissal, although he alleges that his superiors, who were appointed by Christie, fired him unjustly.

Investigators are still in the "exploratory stage," according to the International Business Times, and it is unclear whether criminal charges will be filed.

Meanwhile,Christie has been emphasizing bipartisanship in his public speeches not only in New Jersey but also on the national stage and many have speculated that he could be considering a run for the U.S. presidency.

“We need to renew the spirit and hopes of our state, our country and our people,” Christie said at the Statehouse in Trenton during the State of the State address in January. “We need a New Jersey renewal and an American renewal.”

Christie said the path to renewal necessitated bipartisanship and economic improvement, which he said had occurred during his tenure. He also said there was a need for the country to address national issues he did not believe were being remedied.

Although media speculation has been rife, Christie has not made a formal announcement on whether he is running for president and did not make definitive remarks about seeking the Republican nomination during his State of the State address.

However, Christie has made the first move toward entering the Republican primary for the 2016 presidential race by forming a political action committee and hiring advisers and other staff, according to the Chicago Tribune. Christie’s formation of the Leadership Matters for America PAC on Jan. 26 allowed him to begin raising money immediately.

Christie called his PAC “a group of people who want to be supportive to me,” according to USA Today.

Christie faced scrutiny from The New York Times on Feb. 2 about allegedly allowing taxpayers and foreign governments to pay for luxury accommodations and other benefits while traveling as governor and as a U.S. attorney.

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Omar Wasow, assistant professor of politics, said it was unclear how some of the negative pressChristie has received, also including the Bridgegate controversy in which the George Washington Bridge was allegedly closed by Christie’s aides for political purposes, will affect his presidential chances.

“Bridgegate hurt his prospects to be the Republican nominee, but among the larger Republican base, he’s still enormously popular,” Wasow said. “Other recent revelations, such as spending on travel, may over the course of the time prove even more meaningful than the bridge issue.”

Wasow was interviewed before the latest investigation by federal prosecutors was reported.

He added that Christie’s chances depend on how the public perceives his history.

“He’s a formidable candidate with a lot of baggage,” Wasow said. “It’s unclear which of those two aspects of his candidacy will prevail.”

Paul Frymer, associate professor of politics, said Christie could not be ruled at this stage in the process.

“There are constantly new front runners and people being knocked off,” Frymer said, referring to potential 2016 presidential candidates being written off by the media. “Barack Obama was knocked off at this time in 2008.”

Frymer was also interviewed before the latest investigation was reported.

On Jan. 24, Christie joined Republican hopefuls Sen. Ted Cruz '92 of Texas, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Govs. Rick Perry of Texas and Mike Huckabee of Arkansas at the Iowa Freedom Forum Summit.He reiterated his opposition to gay marriage and abortion rights to the conservative crowd.

Christie has been hitting key election states aside from Iowa as well, including Ohio and Florida during the month of January alone.

Within New Jersey, however, according to a Quinnipiac University poll, Christie’s approval ratings are at one of their lowest points in four years. The poll found that 46 percent of voters approve of the governor while 48 percent disapprove.

“It's the traffic nightmare that never ends for New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie,” a statement accompanying the poll said. “He was doing fine until one year ago.”

Federal prosecutors interviewed Christie at Drumthwacket, the governor’s mansion in Princeton in January about Bridgegate.

Frymer said Bridgegate could ultimately hurt or not hurt Christie.

“It’s something he’ll have to address,” Frymer said. “But most candidates have something they’ll have to address in this form, what matters more in diffusing the situation is how well they address it.”