New Jersey Senator Menendez’s graft trial could sway D.C. power balance

More than two years after U.S. Senator Bob Menendez was indicted on federal corruption charges, the New Jersey Democrat finally faces trial next week in a case whose verdict could sway the balance of power in Washington. Menendez, 63, is accused of taking bribes, including luxury trips and campaign contributions, from a wealthy patron since shortly after he was first elected to the Senate in 2006.

Does Texas deserve federal aid after opposing the Hurricane Sandy relief bill?

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie accused Texas Republicans of being "hypocrites" for seeking Hurricane Harvey federal aid after opposing similar measures in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. While many believe Texas should receive all the funding it needs, others are hesitant to write a blank check to a state that refused to do the same when other states were in need.

Chris Christie’s Attack on Ted Cruz

New Jersey governor Chris Christie attacked Texas senator Ted Cruz on CNN today for his supposed hypocrisy in opposing relief for Hurricane Sandy yet requesting relief as Harvey devastates the Gulf Coast. Christie said: Senator Cruz was playing politics in 2012, trying to make himself look like the biggest conservative in the world.

Ted Cruz Calls Chris Christie A ‘Desparate Politician’ [VIDEO]

Sen. Ted Cruz didn't respond kindly to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's criticism of his decision to vote no on a relief bill for Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Cruz has been accused of hypocrisy for voting against the Sandy bill - which he claims was "filled with pork" - while asking for federal aid to help Texas with Hurricane Harvey.

Chris Christie Backs Trump, Says He’s Fit For Office

GOP New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Wednesday President Donald Trump is fit for the office of the presidency, adding that this debate was ended in November when he was elected. "I do, I do.," he told "Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski on if he thought Trump was fit to lead.

Eight Major SCOTUS Cases to Watch

Counsel: Two former George W. Bush administration solicitors general will face off: Theodore Olson of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Paul Clement of Kirkland & Ellis representing the NCAA. About: Can the federal government keep states from authorizing legal sports betting? That is the high-stakes question raised by Christie's persistent efforts to allow sports betting at New Jersey's casinos and racetracks, where the state could reap millions in tax revenue.

RNC votes to condemn white supremacists over groans of some

The Republican National Committee walked the tightrope Friday in carefully but resolutely denouncing white supremacist groups without criticizing President Donald Trump, who waffled in his own statements in the wake of the deadly clash in Virginia this month. Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, the RNC approved a raft of resolutions, including one asserting "Nazis, the KKK, white supremacists and others are repulsive, evil and have no fruitful place in the United States."

Jury selection for US senatora s corruption trial underway

The New Jersey Democrat was charged in 2015 with accepting campaign donations and gifts, which included vacation trips to Paris and the Dominican Republic , from a Florida eye doctor in exchange for using his position in Congress to lobby for the man's business interests. Menendez and Melgen have argued in court papers that the gifts and donations were innocent and that there was no bribery agreement.

Editorial: Christie gets it right on off-shore drilling38 minutes | Editorials

Editorial: Christie gets it right on off-shore drilling Governor Christie pushes back against the Trump administration on offshore drilling. Check out this story on northjersey.com: https://njersy.co/2xfodY1 The oil drilling rig Polar Pioneer is towed toward a dock in Elliott Bay in Seattle in this 2015 file photo.

Exclusive: Murphy Plans to Raise $1.3 Billion in Taxes

Phil Murphy's proposed tax increases would raise roughly $1.3 billion a year, his spokesman told Observer on Thursday, releasing for the first time a cost estimate of the Democratic gubernatorial nominee's plans to pay for a multitude of campaign promises. A separate $80 million to $100 million would be generated through savings from reining in out-of-network health care costs for public workers covered by state plans, the spokesman said, for a total annual gain of roughly $1.4 billion in revenue.

Trump to tackle opioid addiction in White House speech

President Donald Trump is poised to deliver a major speech Thursday on fighting the opioid epidemic, the deadliest drug crisis in U.S. history. "We're going to have a big meeting on opioids tomorrow," Trump told reporters as he left the White House Wednesday en route to Texas.

Trump: ‘Many sides’ to blame for violent clashes in Virginia

President Donald Trump on Saturday blamed "many sides" for the violent clashes between protesters and white supremacists in Virginia and contended that the "hatred and bigotry" broadcast across the country had taken root long before his political ascendancy. That was not how the Charlottesville mayor assessed the chaos that led the governor to declare a state of emergency, contending that Trump's campaign fed the flames of prejudice.

The opioid crisis is now one of 29 active national emergencies

President Donald Trump's declaration on the opioid crisis marks the 29th concurrent active national emergency in America -- a state in which the United States has existed for nearly four decades straight. "The opioid crisis is an emergency, and I am saying, officially, right now, it is an emergency.

Is Mike Pence the ‘Deep State’ that Trump fears?

"Last summer, the idea of being Donald Trump's running mate was so fraught and distasteful that Trump was forced to choose from a shortlist of Republican Party mediocrities, has-beens, and hangers-on - including ethical basket-cases like Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Among up-and-coming Republicans, Trump was still an object of derision and scorn: vulgar, ignorant, embarrassing, and destined to lose to Hillary Clinton.

Trump holds ‘major briefing’ on opioid crisis

With the opioid crisis intensifying and dozens of Americans dying of drug overdoses each day, President Donald Trump pledged Tuesday to "beat this horrible situation" at a briefing held here during his 17-day "working vacation." "During my campaign, I promised to fight this battle because as president of the United States my greatest responsibility is to protect the American people and to ensure their safety, especially in some parts of our country, it is horrible," Trump told reporters before the event was closed to the press.

Trump Jr.’s meeting with a Russian lawyer was a bad idea: Christie

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Sunday that Donald Trump Jr's meeting with a Russian lawyer was a "bad idea" but he trusts Special Counsel Robert Mueller to give Team Trump a fair shake. "Bob Mueller is a good man, in my experience with dealing with him when he was director of the FBI and I was U.S. attorney," Christie told CNN's "State of the Union."