Chris Christie Still Hasn't Signed N.J. Gas Tax Hike Amid Trump Campaign Crisis

Where's Gov. Chris Christie? And is New Jersey actually going to get that 23-cent gas tax hike that state lawmakers passed on Friday after all? If so, when?

There was a sense of mystery floating around Trenton over the weekend as the governor virtually disappeared from public view following the video revelation of lewd comments made by Donald Trump in 2005.

The revelation by The Washington Post came about an hour after both houses of the state Legislature approved the Christie-backed gas tax hike, which is supposed to replenish the Transportation Trust Fund.

Perhaps the puzzling state of affairs on the legislation and Christie's whereabouts was best summed up by Luke Margolis, a spokesman for Senate President Steve Sweeney, when asked about the fate of the gas tax bill.

"No idea, sorry!" he wrote in an email to Patch.

Some press releases from Christie, who is one of Trump's strongest surrogates as he seeks election to the presidency, were released Friday morning reflecting some support for the gas tax hike.

Read more: Who Voted For New Jersey's 23-Cent Gas Tax Hike?

Since then, however, the Christie administration's communication hasn't gone past a release of daily schedules. Every day, his office has said he will have no public schedule. The state offices were closed on Monday because of Columbus Day.

His spokesman, Brian Murray, only had this to say when asked if there was any word about Christie's next step on the gas tax:

"Not yet."

Christie also was not at the presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday, according to Newsmax and CNN.

"The official line is he has important business to tend to New Jersey," CNN reporter Dana Bash replied. "But he always has important business to tend to in New Jersey, and yet he has found an incredible amount of time in his schedule to help his good friend Donald Trump through thick and thin."Breaking News at Newsmax.com

Christie's only appearance came on Saturday, when The Philadelphia Inquirer captured him as he entered Trump Tower, presumably for debate prep with the GOP presidential nominee.

Even then, however, Christie didn't speak to reporters.

Christie also was expected to appear on at least one Sunday show, presumably to act as a surrogate for Trump. Once the lewd comments were made public, however, the schedule changed.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, meanwhile, broke with Chrisitie and announced on Twitter on Saturday that she's not voting for Trump.

Others have taken to social media and elsewhere and asked the same question: Where in the world is Chris Christie?

Patch file photo