Giuliani: Bridge-Gate a 'Political Prank That Backfired'

Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani doesn't think bridge-gate suggests New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is a bully, it was just "a stupid, political prank that backfired," he said.

Christie apologized Thursday for actions by his aides that resulted in traffic being backed up in Fort Lee, N.J., from the George Washington Bridge. He fired his deputy chief of staff for her role in shutting down lanes going into New York City as political payback for the mayor of Fort Lee not endorsing Christie's re-election.

"Politically stupid things, political pranks that turn bad" happen in every administration, Giuliani said Thursday on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360." "Don't tell me this doesn't happen in the Obama administration, in the Clinton administration, the Bush administration."

Christie said he had no involvement in the lane closures, and Giuliani said he is "absolutely positive" the governor is telling the truth. As the former leader of a complex administration, Giuliani said he knows it is possible for the leader to not know everything going on, even with his closest aides.

Christie is expected to seek the GOP presidential nomination in 2016, and is the only Republican out polling Democrat Hillary Clinton. While the bridge scandal will never be a plus, as long as the story Christie gave Thursday doesn't change, it should have
no long-term political consequence, Giuliani said.

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