Christie faced only one question about the scandal at a Florida event. Christie: 'I don't know' when scandal ends

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was warmly received at a private event in Florida on Sunday on his first major political outing since a traffic scandal hit his administration, attendees told POLITICO — but he said he didn’t know when the so-called Bridgegate controversy would end.

The Republican and prospective 2016 presidential candidate faced only one question about the scandal — and when it might subside — during the private event, said its, Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone.


“He said, ‘I don’t know,’” Langone said. “‘But as far as I’m concerned, I did what I can do, with great apologies and embarrassment.’”

“I did the one thing I had to do,” Christie said, according to Langone. “I fired them. What else can I do?”

( PHOTOS: Who’s who in the Christie bridge flap)

The governor ousted one aide earlier this month and distanced himself from another after documents surfaced showing his aides and allies were involved in orchestrating a September traffic mess near the George Washington Bridge that is at the heart of the controversy. The governor has denied any direct involvement in the fiasco, blaming wayward aides. He also apologized publicly and vowed to cooperate with “appropriate” investigations, as well as do an internal review.

Christie gave “zero hint” that he planned to shake up his team any further, said a person who attended the event.

“He just said how sad and disappointed he was,” the person said. “It was like a family member turning on him. He said it was just really painful.”

( WATCH: Grading media's Christie coverage)

Langone added that Christie said he is “redoubling” efforts to make clear to his team that government is there “to govern, not to torture or to torment. And he pointed out how he’s been able to accomplish all he has with the [state] Assembly and the Senate,” in which Democrats hold majorities.

Christie was in Florida this weekend as the new chairman of the Republican Governors Association. He spent Saturday at private finance events with GOP Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who is up for reelection. The Sunday event hosted by Langone was billed as a meet-and-greet with party donors, not a fundraiser.

Langone said there were 200 people at his home and 750 people at the larger forum at the clubhouse in his development, more than at a previous event with former Vice President Dick Cheney and on a day with two big NFL games.

( Also on POLITICO: GOP activists side with Christie)

Attendees included GOP finance heavyweights Stanley Druckenmiller and Stan Hubbard, according to a person involved in the event. Former GE CEO Jack Welch, former New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and business figures Joe Perella, Jimmy Dunne and Larry Bossidy also attended.

There were about 15 questions, submitted to Langone before they were asked. The bulk of them, he said, were “meaty,” such as how did Christie see the path toward unclogging Washington gridlock.

Another question was whether Social Security and other entitlement programs need to be means-tested. “His answer was, ‘Absolutely,’” said Langone.

“There wasn’t one person that got up and said, ‘You didn’t answer my question, governor,’” Langone said.

Christie said that with 65,000 state government workers having “access to the governor’s stationery,” so to speak, there is always a risk that somebody could do something “stupid,” according to the attendee, who asked not to be named.

( QUIZ: How well do you know Chris Christie?)

Christie has cited the 65,000 figure before in his defense. But the aides involved in the traffic scheme were not, however, rank-and-file state bureaucrats but top Christie aides or appointees.

The potential presidential nominee also brushed off a question about 2016, the attendee said.

“He didn’t get sucked in on that,” the person said. “He said, ‘I’m the governor of New Jersey. I’ve got a job to do and I’m going to do it.’”

This article tagged under: New Jersey

Chris Christie