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Chris Christie turned down offers to join Trump administration

Posted at 4:45 PM, Dec 11, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-11 16:45:04-05

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie turned down several positions in President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration.

Christie rejected Trump’s offers of Homeland Security secretary, secretary of veterans affairs and ambassador to Italy and more, sources familiar with the offers told CNN, confirming a report by NJ Advance Media.

The one position Christie wanted — and had been promised, the sources said — was attorney general. That nomination ultimately went to Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions.

Christie, a longtime Trump friend, was among Trump’s closest advisers and top surrogates during the campaign.

But Christie hasn’t been a fixture at Trump Tower during the transition, and his political stock was damaged by convictions in the “Bridgegate” scandal in New Jersey.

Christie has also faded from the list of potential candidates to replace Reince Priebus — Trump’s incoming White House chief of staff — as chairman of the Republican National Committee.

His fade from Trump’s orbit comes as Christie enters his final year in office in New Jersey.