New Jersey Governor Chris Christie spent more than $300,000 of taxpayer money on food, alcohol and entertaining

Much of that money was spent going to football games

(Getty Images)

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has come under fire after an analysis of his office’s public records revealed that he spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on food and drink. Much of it was spent at American football games.

Records obtained by New Jersey Watchdog show that Mr Christie – a Republican who is considering a possible presidential bid - took advantage of his $95,000 stipend during his five years as governor spending more than $360,000 on food, alcohol and desserts.

The analysis showed Mr Christie also paid $82,594 to Delaware North Sportservice, which operates the concessions’ stands at MetLife Stadium, the home to the New York Giants and New York Jets NFL team. He spent $102,495 worth of groceries and booze from retail stores, including $6,536 in seven visits to liquor stores.

“The official nature and business purpose of the event remains the case regardless of whether the event is at the State House, Drumthwacket or a sporting venue,” Mr Christie’s press secretary Kevin Roberts said in statement.

“Whenever the Governor hosts an event in his official capacity, the discretionary account is available to pay for those costs associated with official reception and hosting and related incidental expenses.”

He added: “Nonetheless in early 2012, the Governor made the decision that costs associated with hosting at the sporting venues were better paid with non-state funds, and those expenses incurred during 2010 and 2011 were reimbursed by the NJGOP.”

The watchdog reported that the funds were ultimately paid back to avoid further public scrutiny.

“To avoid a potential scandal that could embarrass their rising political star, the New Jersey Republican State Committee reimbursed the Treasury in March 2012 for Christie’s purchases from" DNS Sports.

“Since then, the governor has refrained from using his expense account at MetLife and other sports venues,” reported Watchdog.org, a website published by the Franklin Centre for Government & Public Integrity.