New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Holds News Conference To Address Traffic Scandal

Gov. Chris Christie file photo.

(Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

TRENTON — A Democratic group with ties to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today filed a complaint with the New Jersey State Ethics Commission over Gov. Chris Christie's recent trip to Dallas to root for the Cowboys.

American Democracy Legal Fund wants the commission to investigate whether the governor violated state ethic rules by accepting gifts from Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones – including a flight for Christie and his family on a private jet. The group has close ties to American Bridge, a pro-Democratic group that conducts opposition research on Republicans.

They argue the flight and seats inside the owner's luxury box at NFL games violated state rules because Jones is a part-owner of a hospitality company – Legends Hospitality – that was awarded a lucrative Port Authority of New York and New Jersey hospitality services contract, according to published reports.

“… Given Mr. Jones’ own personal business relationship with the Port Authority which is partially controlled by Governor Christie, it appears Governor Christie’s acceptance of gifts from Mr. Jones violates (state ethic rules),” reads the complaint filed by Brad Woodhouse, treasurer for American Democracy Legal Fund.

The complaint argues the governor violated the state’s Conflicts of Interest Law that prohibits state officials from accepting gifts when the person has reason to believe it’s an attempt to influence them. It alleges Christie also violated the state’s Uniform Ethics Code, Woodhouse argued, which has a “zero tolerance” policy for accepting gifts.

The complaint comes despite the Port Authority issuing a statement saying the lease agreement with the company came following "a highly competitive procurement process."

Christie’s office dismissed the complaint as partisan politics.

“Is anyone surprised pro-Hilary PACs like American Bridge and partisan organizations like the DNC are using the Governor’s support of a football team for a political hit?” Maria Comella, Christie’s spokeswoman, said.

Earlier this week, Christie's office said the trip to Dallas didn’t fall under conflict of interest rules or the state’s Uniform Ethics Code. Instead, the governor’s officiated The Code of Conduct for the Governor, adopted under former Gov. Jim McGreevey, in Executive Order 77, which says the governor “may accept gifts, favors, services, gratuities, meals, lodging or travel expenses from relatives or personal friends that are paid for with personal funds.”

But the group argues Christie did violate the Code of Conduct for the Governor.

“Even if Governor Christie refers to Mr. Jones as a friend, … Mr. Jones and three entities with which he is closely affiliated with – Legends Hospitality, the Dallas Cowboys and the National Football League – conduct significant business with Governor Christie and the state of New Jersey,” the complaint reads.

The complaint was sent to Susan Guerrero, a Christie appointee who runs the ethics commission. Guerrero said on Monday that she "personally (didn't) see anything contrary to the ethics laws" with Christie's trip.

"He’s not going in his official state capacity. He’s going for entertainment, not as ‘the governor of New Jersey,'" she said.

Guerrero didn’t immediately return a message for comment.

The complaint was filed a day after American Bridge sent a records request inquiring the cost of Sunday's trip to Dallas.

The administration later said the trip was paid for by Jones, but didn’t say how much it cost – except to say that taxpayers didn’t pay for it.

Christie, his wife and their four children attended the game. Jones also paid the bill for the private jet that shuttled the Christies to Sunday night’s game.

As is always the case, New Jersey taxpayers paid for the governor's security detail provided by the New Jersey State Police.

American Democracy Legal Fund and American Bridge were founded by Clinton ally and Media Matters founder David Brock. American Bridge has gone after Christie several times before. In June 2014, the group criticized the governor for using the state helicopter to get to a town hall event located a short drive to Trenton – about 40 minutes without traffic.

Woodhouse is also the president of American Bridge.

MORE POLITICS

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.