Once Again, No, Christie Was Not Appointed U.S. Attorney Before 9/11

Republican presidential candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during the CNN Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015, in Simi Valley... Republican presidential candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during the CNN Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015, in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Republican presidential candidate and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie got the date he was appointed as U.S. attorney wrong — again — at Wednesday night’s CNN debate.

Christie told CNN host and debate moderator Jake Tapper that he was appointed to the position the day before the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

“Jake, I was named U.S. attorney by President Bush on Sept. 10, 2001,” Christie said.

During the first GOP debate last month, Christie made similar comments and forced his campaign spokeswoman to concede that he had “misspoke.”

Christie said at that Fox News debate in August that he was appointed U.S. attorney the day before 9/11. However, while it was expected that Christie would be appointed as a U.S. attorney, Bush didn’t announce his intention to nominate him until December 2001.

Christie was confirmed and began work as New Jersey’s top prosecutor in January 2002.

“He was making the point that the world changed the next day, so that was the context: The point he was making was that on Sept. 10th, when he got the call (from Bush), it was a very different world than Sept. 11th,” spokeswoman Samantha Smith said after the previous debate, as quoted by NJ.com.

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: