It was a tough thing for a Jersey guy to hear: Boos rained down Saturday on Gov. Chris Christie like he was wearing a Tony Romo jersey.
The once-immensely popular Christie, his glow lost to scandal, sat stone-faced as he was razzed in Times Square for a typically upbeat Super Bowl event.
“You made it across the bridge?” howled one heckler as the problem-plagued Christie — in a navy Windbreaker and black scarf — sat impassively on the stage at Broadway and W. 43rd St.
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One day after allegations that a lying Christie knew about the Bridgegate scandal as it happened, the governor sat uncomfortably in the spotlight on the eve of the Super Bowl.
EDUARDO MUNOZ/REUTERS
The once-immensely popular New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was booed twice Saturday at a Super Bowl event in Times Square.
Christie, whose state is host to the game, made brief remarks about the Broncos-Seahawks showdown before ducking away without answering questions about the latest revelations.
Recent polls showed the governor’s approval rating taking a huge hit amid charges about the George Washington Bridge lane closings and a Hurricane Sandy aid shakedown in Hoboken, N.J.
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Christie was twice booed when introduced on Saturday, and the negativity continued through his speech. He rarely cracked a smile while sitting between NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.
On Friday, an attorney for David Wildstein — a high school classmate of Christie — released a letter charging the governor lied when he claimed no knowledge of the lane closings until they were over.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for SiriusXM
The governor was in a better mood Friday as he and Jon Bon Jovi attended Howard Stern's birthday party at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.
The charges led New Jersey state Sen. Loretta Weinberg to speculate Saturday that her investigative committee could subpoena the governor about the Sept. 9-12 lane closings.
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“We have subpoenaed the governor’s office and his reelection campaign for documents,” said the Bergen County Democrat. “When that’s all done, we’ll consider the next step.”
Christie, in a 700-word email to friends and supporters, ripped into Wildstein, according to Politico.com.
“Bottom line — David Wildstein will do and say anything to save David Wildstein,” read the Saturday message titled “5 Things You Should Know About The Bombshell That’s Not a Bombshell.”
Susan Watts/New York Daily News
Mayor de Blasio and Gov. Cuomo were visibly more cheerful than the embattled New Jersey governor at the Super Bowl event Saturday.
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The traffic was reportedly payback for Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich’s refusal to endorse Christie in his lopsided 2013 reelection victory.
Democratic state Sen. Raymond Lesniak, after predicting Christie would use executive privilege to duck any subpoena, said it was time to consider impeachment.
“He stonewalled it to the very end, until the emails came out,” said the Union County senator. “This is becoming more and more a serious political liability to the governor and a breach of the public trust.”
Christie’s ex-campaign manager Bill Stepien has already told the bipartisan state legislative committee investigating Bridgegate that he will take the Fifth Amendment if called.
Wildstein has also taken the Fifth Amendment, although he has said he will speak if granted immunity.
Lesniak said he expected other administration insiders to follow suit and refuse to cooperate.
“I would expect that to continue,” he said.
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