New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) has asked his two-time campaign manager, Bill Stepien, to remove his name from the running to be chairman of the state’s Republican Party and has also asked him to step down from his consultancy role with the Republican Governors Association.
Christie made the announcement at a news conference on Thursday. Stepien, a longtime adviser to Christie, had previously been said to have survived the fallout of revelations that top Christie aides seemed to have been involved in the New Jersey bridge scandal. Christie said he could not have someone at the top of his political operation who he did not “have confidence in.”
“As a result, I’ve instructed Bill Stepien to not place his name in nomination for state party chairman and he will not be considered for state party chairman and I’ve instructed him to withdraw his consultancy with the Republican Governors Association.”
Christie said by 7 p.m. on Wednesday night Stepien was asked to withdraw his name for chairman and step down from the RGA.
Stepien has been a longtime confidante of Christie, the chairman of the RGA. Christie mentioned Stepien’s work for him in his announcement on Thursday.
“There’s no doubt that Bill has been one of my closest advisers for the last five years,” Christie said.
This post was updated.
