Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday said Jared Kushner "deserves to be scrutinized" in the Russia collusion probe because Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser, attended the transition team meetings in question as a senior adviser.

Asked during an interview with MSNBC whether Kushner -- whose father Christie prosecuted and jailed when Christie was New Jersey's U.S. attorney -- deserves to be scrutinized by the special counsel investigation, Christie didn't hesitate in his response: Of course, the governor said.

Christie, a longtime Trump confidante and fellow Republican, stressed it doesn't mean Kushner ran afoul of the law.

Rather, Kusher -- who, like Christie, is a Livingston native -- should be looked at simply because of his role with the transition, Christie said.

"I'm telling you that he deserves the scrutiny," the governor said. "You know why? Because he was involved in the transition and involved in meetings that call into question his role.

"OK, well, then if he's innocent of that, then that will come out as Mueller examines all the facts," Christie added. "And if he's not, that will come out, too."

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller was appointed as special counsel to investigate whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential race.

It's a statement that will likely revive speculation Kushner and Christie remain at-odds.

Christie's office prosecuted real estate developer Charles Kushner, for tax evasion, witness tampering and illegal campaign donations in 2004. The elder Kushner spent two years in federal prison.

Insiders have said Kushner steered Trump away from picking Christie as his vice-presidential running mate in mid-2016. Christie was also ousted as transition chairman after Trump's unexpected victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"That stuff is ancient history," Christie said during a television interview on ABC's "Good Morning America" in March. "It's over 12 years ago."

Kushner also has dismissed claims that he and the governor do not get along. Kushner and Christie ended up working together on the opioid task force chaired by the governor.

"Six months ago, Gov. Christie and I decided this election was much bigger than any differences we may have had in the past, and we worked very well together," Kushner told Forbes in November 2016.

NJ Advance Media staff writers Matt Arco and Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.