Politics

Woodward: Trump Said Christie Was ‘Stealing’ From Campaign

REUTERS/Carlos Barria

David Krayden Ottawa Bureau Chief
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Then-candidate Donald Trump accused former New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie of “stealing” from the presidential campaign, according to Bob Woodward’s new book.

As Politico reports, “Fear: Trump in the White House” claims that the two had tremendous rows over money and that Trump said Christie was “jinxing” his campaign.

Christie has responded to the allegations with a storm of Twitter activity that condemns Woodward and his book. Christie says the Watergate journalism icon didn’t even bother to fact check the quotes he attributes to Christie and says Woodward got his information from “perpetual leaker” Steve Bannon, a former top aide to Trump.

“Unfortunately, it appears Bob Woodward has used perpetual leaker Steve Bannon as a co-author for his book. His non-stop, self-centered leaking is why Steve was fired from the White House in the first place,” Christie tweeted. “If Mr. Woodward would have performed rudimentary journalistic fact checking with those he was quoting, he would have had a more accurate book rather than just being a stenographer for Mr. Bannon’s self-aggrandizing revisionist history.”

According to Woodward, Trump swore at Christie for using fundraising dollars for the transition team effort that the governor was fronting.

“Where the f**k is the money?” Trump demanded of Christie. “I need money for my campaign. I’m putting money in my campaign and you’re f**king stealing from me.”

Christie, who would not even be around for the actual presidential transition period from Obama to Trump, said he was working to ensure that the president-elect was fully prepared to take the reigns of power.

“You’re jinxing me,” Woodward claims Trump accused Christie. “I don’t want a transition. I’m shutting down the transition. I told you from day one it was just an honorary title. You’re jinxing me. I’m not going to spend a second on it.”

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