'Stalinesque' Purge: Chris Christie People Dumped

People close to Gov. Chris Christie say a "Stalinesque purge" is taking place on President-elect Donald Trump's transition team, according to reports.

Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who had been tapped by the New Jersey governor to coordinate national security efforts, resigned from the transition team this week, according to NBC News.

Christie himself lost his position last week as the head of the transition team. Vice President-elect Mike Pence took his place. Since then, sources close to Christie said there has been a "Stalinesque purge" of loyalists to the governor from the transition team, according to the report.

Christie is now a co-vice chairman, but the team’s new leadership also axed Christie’s former chief of staff Richard Bagger, who had been helping manage the 16-member committee, and former Christie law partner William Palatucci, who served as the committee’s general counsel, according to Politico.

“Bagger and Palatucci worked behind the scenes for months to create a methodical operation that was less drama-filled than the New York-based campaign shop,” according to the Politico article. “They played a central role in hiring transition staff, developing an infrastructure, setting up policy- and agency-focused teams and culling [short lists] for top administration jobs.”

The Trump transition did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Rogers confirmed his exit in a statement that said, despite his departure, he planned to continue to provide advice and counsel as needed to the incoming Trump administration, according to the reports.

Christie and the top aide had been working for months to lay the groundwork for transition, but they found themselves amid an atmosphere of sniping and backbiting as Trump loyalists positioned themselves for key jobs, according to the reports.

Reports have also suggested the Trump transition team has significant influence from Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, the husband of his daughter, Ivanka. Kushner's father, Charles, was prosecuted by Christie when the governor was U.S. Attorney for New Jersey a decade ago.

Patch file photo