Christie on Troubled Appointees: I Demand Highest Standards

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said that although some of his appointees have found themselves in trouble, that doesn't mean he has bad judgment when hiring people.

Christie, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, said Wednesday on CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper" that he demands high standards and takes action when his employees don't follow them.

"My entire life has been about making sure the law is enforced, making sure people hold to certain ethical and legal standards in their conduct in office," Christie said. "I've stood by that standard my entire career. I hold everyone that works for me to that standard, and if they don't hold to that standard, then they're fired."

But when you have 60,000 people working for you there will be instances where someone doesn't hold to the standard, Christie said.

On Tuesday, United Continental announced that its president and CEO Jeff Smisek was resigning over favors the company had granted to former Port Authority Chairman David Samson, a Christie appointee. Samson himself had resigned during the Bridgegate scandal that rocked Christie's administration in early 2014 and threatened his presidential bid.

Christie told Tapper he doesn't know if Samson's case was an instance where the standard wasn't upheld, but added, "when I have had instances of that, I've acted strongly, decisively and continued to keep myself where I need to be, which is focusing on the work of the people and making sure that the standards I hold myself to are always the highest standards."

Related Stories:

• Christie: Bridgegate, Hurricane Have Made Me a 'Better Person'
• Christie Slams de Blasio Claims That New York is Safer