Former Governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, is known for his close ties to former President Donald Trump. However, Christie recently spoke out on the indictment of the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, calling the case laid out in the indictment “devastating.”
Christie, who served as the U.S. attorney for New Jersey under former President George W. Bush, has been a staunch defender of Trump in the past. But in an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, Christie acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations against the Trump Organization.
“The language in the indictment is extraordinary,” Christie said. “It’s devastating in terms of its detail and the allegations that are made.”
The indictment, which was unsealed in early July, charges the Trump Organization and Weisselberg with conspiracy, grand larceny, tax fraud, and falsifying business records. The charges stem from an alleged scheme to avoid paying taxes on fringe benefits given to Weisselberg, who is accused of receiving over $1.7 million in untaxed compensation over a 15-year period.
While Christie noted that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, he also emphasized the seriousness of the charges and their potential impact on the Trump Organization’s reputation. “If you’re in the business world and people start to get convicted of these types of charges, the stigma against the company is going to last for a long time,” he said.
Christie’s comments on the indictment come at a critical time for the Trump Organization, which has been under investigation by Manhattan prosecutors for several years. The charges against Weisselberg and the organization are just the first to be filed in what is expected to be a long and complex legal battle.
Despite Christie’s recent criticism of the Trump Organization, he remains a loyal supporter of the former president. He has even hinted at the possibility of a 2024 presidential run, although he has not officially announced his candidacy.
In the end, Christie may be walking a tightrope between loyalty to Trump and his own reputation as a former federal prosecutor. But his comments on the Trump Organization’s indictment demonstrate that even the staunchest defenders of the former president cannot ignore the gravity of the charges against his organization.
