Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Sunday lauded Sen. John McCain's character, telling ABC News’ “This Week" that he was an “amazing person" who stood by him during the Bridgegate scandal.
McCain, 81, died Saturday night after a year-long battle with brain cancer.
Christie said he received a telephone call from McCain two days after the scandal became news.
“And he said to me, listen, I got one question for you. He said, 'Did you have anything to do with this.' And I said 'I didn’t, Senator.' And he said, 'Good.'"
Christie then went on to describe how McCain told him “you’re getting killed out there. He goes, 'tell your people to put me on as many TV shows as I can. I’m going to stand up for you.'”
The former governor said McCain “was one of the only voices on television saying I know Chris Christie, I know his character, I know he didn’t have anything to do with this.”
Christie then emphasized, “And I didn’t call him, he called me… very few friends like that in politics, and he’s an amazing person.”
Eventually, two of Christie’s former aides were charged in the scandal, in which lanes on the George Washington Bridge were closed in retribution against a mayor who did not endorse Christie for reelection, according to The Hill.
Prosecutors did not pursue Christie because they said they were unable to prove that he had knowledge of the affair.
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