Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-21) hired former Gov. Chris Christie campaign manager Bill Stepien as a consultant for this year’s Republican contests, and he isn’t apologizing for the move.
“I’m using a number of consultants, and he’s one that I consulted,” Bramnick said of the Christie confidante dismissed by the governor after Bridgegate. “The guy is not a criminal. The bottom line is he hasn’t been charged with anything and he’s very good at what he does. He doesn’t deserve a death sentence.”
A close ally of the governor who has served as arguably Christie’s most vociferous post-George Washington Bridge scandal apologist, Bramnick said he’s used many GOP consultants this cycle, among them Chris Russell, Mike Duhaime and Larry Weitzner.
“Is there someone out there who thinks he [Stepien] should be permanently unemployed?” he asked. “He’s doing statewide consulting and I’m perfectly comfortable that he’s a human being who deserves a second chance and not a death sentence.”
