Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Sunday he has no plans to run against Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez, who has been indicted on charges of bribery and aiding Egypt.
“I have no interest in being in the United States Senate,” Mr. Christie, a Republican presidential candidate, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I had a chance to appoint myself to the United States Senate in 2013 when [for New Jersey Sen.] Frank Lautenberg passed away and I was governor. If I didn’t appoint myself to the United States Senate, the easiest way to get there, I sure as heck am not going to run for it.”
Mr. Menendez is facing widespread calls from fellow Democrats to resign, and he will face a primary challenger. The senator, who faced bribery allegations several years ago that resulted in a hung jury, is refusing to leave office.
Mr. Menendez, who has been forced to relinquish his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is accused by New York prosecutors of accepting nearly half a million dollars in bribes from a New Jersey businessman in exchange for sensitive information to benefit Egypt.
Mr. Christie said he’s rejected the idea of running for Congress “throughout my entire career.”
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
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