John McAlpin

State House Bureau Chief

President Trump’s firing of the FBI director creates another prominent opening in his administration and with that another chance for Gov. Chris Christie’s name to be floated as a possible choice for the president who so far has passed on hiring New Jersey’s governor.

Trump dismissed James Comey late Tuesday and media speculation followed quickly on his replacement. By Wednesday, Christie was included on some of the lists like one from The Associated Press and from Politico where he was last and included along with Rudy Giuliani. Like Christie, Giuliani is a former federal prosecutor and vocal defender of Trump.

Since he ended his own presidential bid and became the first of the Republican primary challengers to endorse Trump, Christie has often been seen as a possible choice for any one of a number of Trump posts given their personal relationship.

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Trump had named Christie as chairman of his transition effort and allowed him a prominent spot at the GOP convention. Christie was seen as a possible vice president before losing out to Mike Pence.

With Trump’s victory, Christie was seen as a choice for the Cabinet. Again Christie’s background as federal prosecutor, and with his vocal support for Trump, many wondered if he would be attorney general. Amid the transition, Christie’s relationship with Jared Kushner, the president’s son in law and senior adviser, was seen as a stumbling block for any Trump nomination. As U.S. attorney in New Jersey, Christie lead the corruption prosecution of Kushner’s father.

Trump did not choose Christie but in March he did name him to head a commission on the nation’s opiod abuse crisis, an issue Christie has championed.

If Christie were a serious choice to replace Comey, he would face the same political stumbling blocks that were present when he was considered as a possible vice president or Cabinet member including his history with Kushner and the guilty verdicts in the George Washington Bridge scandal.

To replace Comey, former Republican Gov. Tom Kean said Trump needs to find someone whose integrity and impartiality won’t be questioned by either Democrats or Republicans.

“And unfortunately, in the world we are living in, there are very few of those people,” Kean said. “People who are beyond reproach, acceptable to both parties, if you count them you don’t get past the fingers on one hand. And second, you’ve got to get somebody who would accept the job.”

Given the role the FBI plays in trying to prevent terrorist attacks within the country, Kean said it’s important the director have the support of both the president and leaders of both parties in Congress.

He said it might not be a good idea for the president to consider Christie for the FBI post, as some television commentators have suggested.

“I don’t know if that would fly in the Senate,” Kean said. “I’m not sure that wouldn’t be considered too partisan.”

Washington D.C. Correspondent Herb Jackson contributed to this report.