After New Jersey Gov’t Shutdown, Chris Christie Spotted At Public Beach

NJ Gov. Chris Christie (right) and his family enjoy a picture perfect Sunday afternoon at the beach on Island Beach State Park, which is closed to the public due to the state government shutdown.  7/2/17  (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
In this Sunday, July 2, 2017, photo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, right, uses the beach with his family and friends at the governor's summer house at Island Beach State Park in New Jersey. Christie is defending hi... In this Sunday, July 2, 2017, photo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, right, uses the beach with his family and friends at the governor's summer house at Island Beach State Park in New Jersey. Christie is defending his use of the beach, closed to the public during New Jersey's government shutdown, saying he had previously announced his vacation plans and the media had simply "caught a politician keeping his word." (Andrew Mills/NJ Advance Media via AP) MORE LESS
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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) was spotted soaking up the sun at a public beach on Sunday, despite its closure due to a budget stand-off between him and the state’s legislature.

The state government, including all state-run beaches, shut down on Friday at midnight. But photographs published by NJ Advance Media showed Christie and his family at a state-owned beach house on Island Beach State Park.

At a press briefing Sunday, Christie said “I didn’t get any sun today,” responding to a reporter’s question, according to NJ.com.

Later, after being made aware of the photos, Christie’s spokesman said the governor had visited the beach, and then delivered a line for the ages.

“He did not get any sun,” Brian Murray said. “He had a baseball hat on.”

On Monday, WTXF-TV asked Christie about the public outcry over the photos.

“I’m sorry they’re not the governor,” he said.

Christie followed up in a tweet on Monday, emphasizing that local beaches remained open:

Even New Jersey’s Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno (R), the GOP nominee to replace Christie in this year’s election, piled on:

This post has been updated.

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