Thanks to a particularly ill-timed government shutdown in New Jersey over budget disputes, a number of New Jersey’s beaches were closed during the busy July 4th weekend. That, of course, did not stop Republican Gov. Chris Christie from enjoying the empty shoreline with his family during the holiday—a decision he may soon learn to regret thanks to the recent ethics complaint filed against him.
Once the photos of his ~exclusive~ family hangout on Island Beach State Park (one of the beaches closed due to the shutdown) were released, his sunbathing quickly went viral. Gov. Christie remained his unapologetic self and justified the beach use, telling reporters, “Run for governor, and you can have a residence there.”
That statement might come to bite him in the rear, because of local attorney Mario M. Blanch, who filed the complaint with the State Ethics Commission, saying the state prohibits people in the executive branch from enjoying “special benefits” as a result of their political office. NJ.com reports:
"The governor and his family hold no special privileges over the residents and citizens of the state of New Jersey," the complaint says. "By using the park, 'in direct contravention to the shutdown,' (Christie) utilized his position as governor ... to obtain benefits for himself and his family that members of the general public could not enjoy for themselves."
Blanch noted that while Christie and family members were on the beach, the state shutdown ordered by Christie due to a budget impasse caused many businesses to lose money and caused inconvenience to numerous families traveling during the Fourth of July weekend.
Blanch wants Gov. Christie to “pay restitution in an amount of the fair market value of renting a private beach in New Jersey during the July Fourth weekend.”