Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie started his new gig as a political contributor at ABC News on Tuesday, and he sat down with Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos to discuss some the week's more pressing issues, including a recent assertion by President Trump that he would "love" to be interviewed under oath by the Russia probe's special prosecutor, Robert Mueller. "I'm looking forward to it," he even told a crowd of dumbstruck reporters last week.
"You know President Trump. You know Robert Mueller. What does the president have to fear from Robert Mueller?" Stephanopoulos asked Christie.
"Robert Mueller is not someone to be trifled with," Christie warned. "And he's not someone who takes lightly the words of anybody who he's looking at."
Former NJ @GovChristie says he doesn’t think Pres. Trump should sit down with Special Counsel Mueller: "I don't bel… https://t.co/ESEo8UCOp4— ABC News (@ABC News) 1517314748.0
When asked by Stephanopoulos if Trump should sit down with Mueller, Christie gave a quick and unequivocal "no."
"I don't believe so," Christie continued after being pressed for an explanation. "Listen, I don't think there's been any...credible allegations against the President of the United States. And I don't think the President of the United States, unless there are credible allegations, and I don't believe there are, should be sitting across from a special counsel."
.@ChrisChristie adds: "I don't think there's been any allegation, credible allegations against the president and I… https://t.co/CbkEbUH4mN— Katherine Faulders (@Katherine Faulders) 1517314822.0
"You don't think the president has questions to answer about a possible obstruction of justice?" Stephanopoulos asked, incredulously.
"No, I don't think he does at this point, George," Christie confidently replied.
Pointing to his past as a prosecutor, Christie added, "Only Bob Mueller really knows what he knows, and we won't know it for a while. So everybody who speculates about this stuff, George? They're throwing darts at the wall with a blindfold on."
Unsurprisingly, not everybody was satisfied with Christie's response:
@40yardhaberdash @LynnSch43763189 @ABC @maggieNYT @GovChristie @ABC this says it all. If anyone should know better… https://t.co/aqdDbUSDhQ— Maureen Flatley (@Maureen Flatley) 1517318820.0
@ABC @GovChristie What else would a Trump supporter/advisor say?!?!?!? Next thing we know #Kellyanne will be on @abcnews!!!!! 👎👎— John (@John) 1517316270.0
@KFaulders @GStephanopoulos @ChrisChristie Christie is spouting nonsense. Trump doesn’t have a choice— Jennifer 'pro-voting' Rubin (@Jennifer 'pro-voting' Rubin) 1517314450.0
@KFaulders @ChrisChristie If there’ve been “no credible allegations against the president,” @ChrisChristie, then wh… https://t.co/9Jinn2Zf8w— Josh DuBose (@Josh DuBose) 1517332112.0
@KFaulders @GStephanopoulos @ChrisChristie OK Gov. https://t.co/aKh0dTgSb6— Duchess Weissmann 'Arrogant Ambassador' (@Duchess Weissmann 'Arrogant Ambassador') 1517315708.0
Including Preet Bharara, a former U.S. attorney who was ousted by Trump back in March, who called Christie out on his hypocrisy:
ABC's newest hire isn't exactly what viewers had in mind when they think of journalistic integrity:
@ABC @GovChristie Been a loyal viewer of GMA for 25 years — until today. Disappointed to see that they have hired C… https://t.co/K9jXSeJZBL— Otho Kerr (@Otho Kerr) 1517319727.0
@ABC @GovChristie Sorry ABC- switching the channel til you get rid of Christie - he has zero credibility— Nilsa (@Nilsa) 1517315075.0
@brianjayjones @ABC @GovChristie Ditto I'm done with ABC— Rosalynn (@Rosalynn) 1517330363.0
@ABC @GovChristie And...being from NJ, I was hoping not to see christie again. Thanks ABC!!! Not watching this show ever again.— Diane DC 🐩 (@Diane DC 🐩) 1517315157.0
@KFaulders @ChrisChristie Christie is living in Fantasyland if he thinks there have been no credible allegations ag… https://t.co/8BUMep5CMc— Carla (@Carla) 1517339761.0
It sounds like ABC might need to rethink this one:
@KFaulders @ChrisChristie @ABC you are paying loathsome Chris Christie (a toady & shill for the even more loathsome… https://t.co/uC7bT8tckN— Christine is Wearing a Mask FFS (@Christine is Wearing a Mask FFS) 1517331909.0