Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie has slammed Donald Trump as a “one man crime wave” and says he “absolutely” believes federal prosecutor’s case against the ex-President.
During an interview with the “Pod Save America” podcast on Thursday, the 2024 Republican presidential candidate noted that Trump’s situation was uncommon, with potential trials for various legal issues.
He criticized Trump’s conduct and referred to him as a “one man crime wave.”
Speaking to CNN’s “State of the Union” podcast on Sunday, Christie also compared Trump and his allies to the Corleone crime family portrayed in “The Godfather”, albeit “with no experience”.
Trump’s Legal Troubles ‘Self-inflicted’
During Thursday’s podcast, Christie was quizzed over whether he had ever encountered someone facing between four and six trials for different legal issues, referring to Trump’s predicament.
He emphasized that most individuals facing legal charges usually have one trial, but in Trump’s case, he has become a “one man crime wave.” Christie argued that every charge against Trump appeared to be self-inflicted, underscoring the need to scrutinize Trump’s underlying conduct.
Prosecutors have alleged that Trump, his valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago employee Carlos De Oliveira, tried to delete surveillance footage after investigators issued a subpoena to obtain it.
While Christie disagreed with certain charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, particularly those related to alleged hush money paid to Stormy Daniels, he maintained his confidence in the charges from Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Donald Trump: He Who Must Not Be Named
Christie’s open criticism of Trump, whom he supported and advised ahead of the 2020 race, has also extended to matters concerning the January 6 Capitol riot.
He contested Senator Tim Scott’s defense of Trump, pointing out that Trump’s physical presence during the riot did not absolve him of responsibility for the actions of his supporters.
Christie has even likened the former President to the Harry Potter villain Voldemort during a campaign event in New Hampshire. He criticized other candidates for avoiding mentioning Trump by name, stating that it was acceptable to address him directly.
It seems that Christie’s latest bid for the White House will be an uphill battle at best, with recent polling by DailyMail.com suggesting that 60 percent of GOP voters think he should withdraw from the race immediately.
While Christie’s candid criticism of Trump may set him apart from some of his opponents in the 2024 Republican primary, there is little hope it will deliver him a victory.
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
From 19FortyFive
The Second American Civil War Has Begun
