"Bob Mueller is a good man who I think will try to do the right thing by this investigation but that doesn't mean he's perfect" – Chris Christie tells @NicolleDWallace on #DeadlineWH pic.twitter.com/uJCFhCdJok
— Deadline White House (@DeadlineWH) December 19, 2017
Tuesday’s edition of Deadline: White House featured former New Jersey governor Chris Christie on the MSNBC program and it didn’t take long for the appearance to invite healthy scrutiny. To put it mildly, Christie wasn’t exactly having a cheery afternoon across from host Nicole Wallace.
Christie, a highly visible fixture/ally during Donald Trump’s presidential run, was by to chat about (among other things) Robert Mueller‘s ongoing investigation. Wallace asked Christie about Fox News’ negative coverage of the acting FBI director. During his MSNBC appearance, Christie provided a lot of praise for Mueller woven into his criticism, but Christie framed the scenario as such.
“I think the special counsel investigation will ultimately be judged by the results of that investigation,” he said. “You’re going to hear a lot of yelling back and forth, partisan yelling for the most part on both sides.”
Wallace pushed back against this assessment and asked further questions about Trump’s Russian ties. This line of questioning utlimately left Christie frustrated.
“Who are you? Do you work for Mueller now?” snarled Christie.
Christie addressed a number of elements about the investigation even with the less than harmonious exchange. Included in that talk was the subject of Michael Flynn, a key player in the overall story. Christie talked about Flynn’s level of cooperation following the ex-governor’s declaration that Donald Trump say absolutely nothing regarding questions of obstruction of justice.
“One thing I’m confident of is we have no idea what Mike Flynn is talking about, what he’s cooperating on and when he started to cooperate,” said Christie. “I can guarantee you this. He took the plea on a Friday. I guarantee it wasn’t Wednesday. He’s been cooperating for a while!”
Christie’s vigor for defending Trump was not similarly extended to the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The two have a notoriously complicated relationship.
“He deserves the scrutiny. You know why? Because he was involved in the transition and involved in meetings that call into question his role,” Christie said of the microscope Kushner is under. “If he’s innocent of that, then that will come out as Mueller examines all the facts, and if he’s not, that will come out too.”
"(Jared Kushner) deserves the scrutiny .. He was involved in the transition and involved in meetings that call into question his role" – Chris Christie tells @NicolleDWallace on #DeadlineWH pic.twitter.com/2b9Lnqm5GL
— Deadline White House (@DeadlineWH) December 19, 2017
(Via Mediate)