Christie Repays New Jersey for 2 Chopper Flights

But he dismisses controversy as 'political theater'
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 2, 2011 4:52 PM CDT
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Repays NJ for 2 Helicopter Trips
In this May 31 photo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, right, exits a state helicopter to attend his son's high school baseball game in Montvale, N.J.   (AP Photo/PATCH.com, Christopher Costa)

After drawing national attention for a helicopter ride to his son’s baseball game, New Jersey’s Chris Christie will reimburse the state for that trip and a second similar one, the Star-Ledger reports. But he still thinks the whole mess is "political theater" dredged up by the media. The bills:

  • Christie will reimburse the state $1,232.30 for Tuesday's trip and another $919.20 for a previously undisclosed trip on Friday.
  • The state GOP will reimburse the state $1,232.29 for the trip from Tuesday's game to a political function.

Christie said he is doing so to focus on the state's real problems "and not the political theater and media theater that people enjoy at times,” reports ABC. “I’m governor 24/7, every single day. But I’m also a father. And the fact of the matter is sometimes when you’re governor, you do not control your schedule,” he added. “And so, if you want to try to do all the things that people want you to do as governor and also be a father ... there are times when it is literally impossible to do that by car, and two of those instances came up in the last week.” State Police say that the choppers would have been flying anyway and that Christie's trips cost nothing extra. (More Chris Christie stories.)

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