Chris Christie: RNC chair ‘carrying water for Donald Trump’

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) said on Sunday that Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel is “carrying water for Donald Trump” after the party censured two lawmakers sitting on the Jan. 6 committee and declared the Capitol riot by a mob of Trump supporters “legitimate political discourse.”

During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” Christie told host Martha Raddatz that the resolution was backed by a small number of Republicans who had largely been installed during former President Trump’s four-year tenure.

“This is just a majority of 168 people. And the RNC, most of those folks, were put into place over the course of the four years by Donald Trump. And so, it’s certainly Ronna Romney McDaniel is carrying water for Donald Trump in this regard. And so, let’s not make it bigger than it is,” Christie said.

The resolution that censured Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said the two lawmakers are participating in “persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse” by sitting on the Jan. 6 panel, which was convened last year by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

The resolution adds the RNC “shall immediately cease any and all support of” both lawmakers “as members of the Republican Party for their behavior which has been destructive to the institution of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Republican Party and our republic, and is inconsistent with the position of the Conference.” 

Christie also characterized the resolution as a mistake by the party because it fails to keep the focus on Biden administration and was not reflective of people who want to move on from the 2020 election.

“They say that part of the reason for the resolution is they want to keep the focus on Joe Biden and the failures of the Democratic administration. Well, how did that work for you? All anybody is talking about this weekend is this resolution rather than talking about the failures of the Biden administration,” Christie said.