Chris Christie’s big, mystery announcement was over Statehouse renovations

(Julio Cortez/AP)

Chris Christie, the Republican governor of New Jersey, was scheduled to speak in the Statehouse Rotunda on Tuesday to make an unspecified announcement and the surprise news of $300 million renovations to the Statehouse, for most, was quite underwhelming for those tuned in. The event marks the governor’s public appearance following the presidential election and the beginning of the trial over the closure of the George Washington Bridge.

He said that the current state of the building is shameful because it hasn’t seen renovations since 1958, resulting in a number of code violations across the property.

Reporters were not allowed to question Governor Christie, who was recently removed from President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team. Still, it’s rumored that he could be appointed to the Cabinet since he was the first high-profile Republican to endorse Mr Trump for president.

As he’s said in the past, he still plans to complete his term as governor, but on Tuesday he admitted that if “something extraordinary” comes up he would “consider” taking the opportunity.

Earlier this month, Politico reported that Mr Trump’s top aides were unimpressed with Mr Christie’s handling of the Bridgegate scandal dozens of witnesses said he lied about his knowledge of the incident. He recently told New Jersey 101.5 that he planned to serve the rest of his term and would not accept a job in the Trump administration.

"I have said to the president-elect, reminding him, that I have 14 months left in my term and that it's my desire to finish my term," he told the radio station. "You don't ever look at the president, at least I don't, look at a president of the United States and say to them, 'under no circumstances will I consider anything you ask me to do.' But I think the president-elect understands that I feel like I've got an obligation here in the state to complete the term I was elected to."