In a new book coming out Tuesday, former New Jersey governor and Trump ally Chris Christie reveals the president and son-in-law Jared Kushner believed getting rid of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn would be enough to shut down the Russia investigation.
Mr. Kushner, whose power has grown recently, appears as a shadow campaign manager and chief of staff in the White House, often giving his father-in-law questionable and problematic advice, according to the book, on topics including Mr. Flynn; how Democrats would perceive the firing of James B. Comey as F.B.I. director; his initial support for the campaign chairman, Paul Manafort; and how West Wing and key cabinet jobs were filled.
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On Feb. 14, 2017, Mr. Christie and his wife, Mary Pat, had lunch scheduled with the president. It happened to be the day after Mr. Flynn — whom Mr. Christie did not back for the national security adviser role — was dismissed for lying to the vice president about his contacts with the Russian ambassador during the transition. Mr. Kushner decided to attend.
As Mr. Kushner tucked into his “typical salad,” Mr. Christie wrote, the president said to him, “This Russia thing is all over now, because I fired Flynn.” Mr. Christie said that he started laughing, and the president asked why.
“‘Sir,’ I said, ‘this Russia thing is far from over,’” Mr. Christie wrote. Mr. Trump responded: “What do you mean? Flynn met with the Russians. That was the problem. I fired Flynn. It’s over.” Mr. Kushner added, “That’s right, firing Flynn ends the whole Russia thing.”
Mr. Christie, who wrote that it all sounded “naïve,” recalled Mr. Kushner telling him that he was “crazy” when he said they would most likely still be discussing the Russia issue in February 2018.
Matthew Miller, former DOJ spokesman, notes the Valentines Day lunch Christie recounts takes place the same day Trump allegedly clears the Oval Office after a meeting and asks Comey to let the Flynn matter go.
Christie also maintains the Trump campaign was not sophisticated enough to conspire with the Russians.
Mr. Christie said the campaign was too disorganized and threadbare “to run a Tom Clancy operation,” and said he never saw evidence of collusion with Russian officials. But he argued that people like Mr. Flynn never should have been hired in the first place.
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Mr. Christie was similarly wary about Jeff Sessions serving as attorney general, suggesting he mishandled his recusal from the Russia inquiry. He also took aim at Stephen K. Bannon, Mr. Trump’s former chief strategist, saying he manufactured scenes about Mr. Christie in books and news media accounts. Repeatedly, Mr. Christie suggested that people around Mr. Trump, such as Mr. Bannon, promoted themselves at the president’s expense.
Trump Thought Firing Flynn Would End ‘Russia Thing,’ Chris Christie Writes in Book (NYT)