Former New Jersey Gov. Dick Codey has three words for Gov. Chris Christie: Knock it off.
The Democratic state senator from northern New Jersey says an escalating feud between them over judicial nominees is demeaning to the office of the governor and needs to stop.
Codey's comments to The Associated Press are his first since the Republican governor fired two Codey allies from government jobs and canceled his security detail.
Christie's actions, first reported by The Star-Ledger, came after Codey called the governor a liar for saying that he was blocking Christie's court nominees in Essex County.
On Wednesday Christie attacked Codey again at a news conference in Pennsauken, saying lawmakers like him care more about perks than getting the job done.
Codey tells the AP so-called perks of the office are being able to help the less fortunate.
On Monday, the governor announced he’d be removing Codey’s cousin from a $215,000-a-year job at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Christie also pulled Codey’s state police security, which has been in place since 2006 at the end of the Democrats’ 14 months serving as governor.
Politics
The Star-Ledger reported the feud has resulted in 11 judicial openings. Thousands of civil and family court cases could be suspended or delayed.
