SWAMPTASTIC

Trump Hires Former Christie Aide Fired During Bridgegate

Was fired over “callous indifference” to scandal.

President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday announced the hiring of a former aide to Gov. Chris Christie who was fired amid the Bridgegate scandal that rocked New Jersey. Bill Stepien, who joined the Trump campaign in August as national field director, was named White House political director by the transition team. Christie fired Stepien in 2014 and lambasted his “callous indifference” shown in emails released during an investigation into the politically motivated lane closure on the George Washington Bridge. Although he was never charged in the scandal, Stepien’s name was frequently invoked during the trial of several other Christie allies, and one text suggested the governor “flat out lied about... Stepien not being involved.” Political observers have noted that while Stepien gets a senior Trump White House gig, his former boss and early Trump endorser, Chris Christie, has seemingly been shut out of the administration.