Actually, Chris Christie May Be Pushing To Leave N.J.: Reports

Gov. Chris Christie is reportedly pushing to be picked for a position that would saddle him close to the Trump administration - and perhaps pull him away from New Jersey.

Just days after announcing during a press conference that he's "not going anywhere," Politico reported that Christie has engaged in a "full-court press" with senior members of Donald Trump's presidential transition team in hopes of getting the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee.

He would succeed Reince Priebus, who is leaving the chairmanship to serve as President-elect Donald Trump's chief of staff.

The question would be, if he were to accept the post, would he serve it full-time and resign as governor, or would he do it while serving as New Jersey's chief executive - just as Debbie Wasserman Schultz did when she served as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee while also working as a member of Congress?

Some, like former DNC Chair Howard Dean, have said the position of party leader is no longer a part-time position - which is why he has campaigned for himself to succeed Schultz in the DNC post full-time.

Efforts to obtain comment from Christie or his spokesman were unsuccessful at press time. You can read the full Politico article by clicking here.

During a press conference, Christie practically ended speculation Tuesday that he would be leaving office to serve in the Trump administration, telling a press gathering: "I am not going anywhere."

"For those of you looking forward to me leaving before January 2018, sorry to disappoint you," the governor told a press gathering Tuesday (see video below), where he took no questions.

Christie, however, made the announcement after a list of grievances and failures regarding his leadership performance were made public, possibly dooming his chances in the Trump administration, according to an expansive New York Times analysis.

Christie already lost his job as Trump's transition chairman earlier this month, and some of his appointments drew criticism from people outside and inside Trump's inner circle. Christie also met with Trump for about 20 minutes last week in what was viewed as one of the shortest transition meetings Trump has had.

Read more: Christie's Chances With Trump May Be Doomed: List of Grievances, Failures Reported

"Bridgegate" troubles have also resurfaced. Christie has agreed to appear in court after getting a criminal summons for official misconduct allegations connected to the George Washington Bridge lane-closings scandal, according to court documents.

Christie was scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Hackensack, Bergen County, on Nov. 23, but Judge Bonnie Mizdol signed an order setting oral arguments for Jan. 11.

Here is a video of the Tuesday press conference:

Statehouse photo

Patch file photo