Donald Trump's $30M Tax Debt Nearly Vanished Under Gov. Christie, New Reports Reveal

Did Gov. Chris Christie let Donald Trump slide on almost $30 million in taxes? The Republican presidential nominee's $30 million casino tax debt, which New Jersey officials fought for years to collect, was significantly reduced after Christie took office in 2010 — a situation that has raised questions regarding the relationship between Christie and Trump, according a New York Times report.

Indeed, New Jersey agreed to reduce Trump's tax debt via settlement to $5 million after Christie took office. Christie spokesman Brian Murray told the Times that Christie had not been aware of the tax dispute and could not comment on the terms of the settlement.

Trump had a troubled past as a casino operator in Atlantic City that led to $30 million tax debt to New Jersey. But that figure was reduced to $5 million in 2011, The Times discovered after reviewing the thousands of documents filed in the bankruptcies of Trump’s casinos.

The specific details of the settlement weren't available in The New York Times report, though the report did note that state officials began to review Trump's records with more vigor once they noticed his company had not been filling out the required schedule for the minimum tax assessment a decade ago. This happened after the Trump casinos filed for bankruptcy protection in 2004 for the third time.

The news was circulating quickly Wednesday morning, and even some celebrities were picking up on it.

Christie was the first "mainstream" establishment Republican to endorse Trump in this year's presidential campaign. Since dropping out himself from the GOP primaries, the governor has been at Trump's side on many occasions while on the campaign trail — a relationship that has been widely mocked in social media.

At the same time, Christie's approval ratings have dropped to a level not felt by any governor in 25 years as New Jersey residents have grown tired of the governor's frequent out-of-state travels — as well as his cozy relationship with Trump.

Christie was also a leading candidate to be Trump's running mate before he chose Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.

Read more: Chris Christie Was Really, Really Unhappy About Trump VP Snub.

Christie met Trump in 2002 and became friends with him soon after. Their fortunes in the state, however, appeared to be going in opposite directions over the following decade as Christie became a rising GOP star.

The GOP nominee's New Jersey corporate taxes went unpaid from 2002 through 2006, during which time Trump was leading his casino company as chairman and Christie was the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, according to The Asbury Park Press.

Trump's problems with the state intensified in February 2007, when the state filed papers in court saying auditors had discovered discrepancies that raised “numerous additional questions regarding the accuracy” of the Trump casinos’ tax returns. The company had reported lower revenue figures on its tax returns than on filings with the State Casino Control Commission, according to The Times report.

The Trump casinos filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009; by then, the state said the total due, with interest, had risen to $29.4 million. In 2011, however, the Christie administration announced the two sides were in settlement discussions, and on Dec. 5 of that year, New Jersey and the Trump casino company filed a settlement agreement with the court showing that the state would accept $5 million, paid in two installments, according to The Times report.

Read the complete Times report here.