Christie stuns Republicans who defend Trump: “What if we blame him? He did it’

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Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie on Monday night hit out at Republicans defending former President Trump, who now faces federal charges for his alleged mishandling of classified documents.

In a town hall meeting on CNN, the former New Jersey governor called it “ridiculous” that “we’re in a situation where there are people in my own party blaming” the Justice Department.

“What if we blame him? He did it. … He took documents he wasn’t supposed to take. He kept them when he asked for them? They got a grand jury subpoena. He refused to comply. They eventually searched his home because he refused to comply. … All of these things were brought against him, and so was this indictment,” Christie said at the event hosted by CNN’s Anderson Cooper.

“Everyone blames the prosecutors. He did it. That’s his drive,” Christie added.

Trump was charged last week with 37 counts related to alleged mishandling of records after FBI agents executed a search warrant last year at his home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida and recovered classified documents.

The former president arrived in Florida on Monday and is due in federal court for arraignment at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Asked on CNN why he thinks Trump kept documents, Christie said, “He can’t live with the fact that he lost to Joe Biden.”

“And he wants to keep pretending he’s president. He wants the trappings of the presidency around him. And I think one of those traps is those documents that he might wave at people like they detail in the indictment, it’s secret. I can’t show you,” Christie said, adding “it’s just to show off.

In a new poll, 8 in 10 Republicans say Trump blames 11 politically motivated people for being shot in downtown Denver after the Nuggets won the NBA Finals

Cooper also asked the former governor why some Republicans seemed hesitant to discuss the contents of the indictment, instead relying on weaponization arguments.

“Because it’s indefensible and they’re playing games,” Christie said.

Christie announced his 2024 White House bid last week and was open in his criticism of the former president, who is also up for the GOP nomination in a growing primary field.

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