Christopher Wray speaks at speak Justice Department on November 4, 2003 in Washington DC. (Getty)
Christopher Wray has been selected as Donald Trump’s pick to be the next director of the FBI.
Wray is the former assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department’s criminal division, but he is also known for his relationship with Chris Christie, as he was Christie’s personal lawyer during the Bridgegate scandal.
Here’s what you need to know about the relationship between Christopher Wray and Chris Christie.
1. Wray & Christie Worked Together at the Justice Department
Chris Christie at the Republican National Convention. (Getty)
Before Bridgegate, Christopher Wray and Chris Christie worked together at the Department of Justice.
During the administration of George W. Bush, Chris Christie was a United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, while Christopher Wray was assistant attorney general leading the Justice Department’s criminal division.
According to the Asbury Park Press, Christie says that he and Wray worked together “a lot” during this time. This included work they did on an investigation into Bristol-Myers Squibb, a pharmaceutical company.
2. Wray Was Christie’s Personal Lawyer During Bridgegate
Chris Christie at the first GOP Candidates Debate. (Getty)
Christopher Wray was one of several lawyers who represented Chris Christie during the Bridgegate proceedings.
Bridgegate, of course, refers to the scandal involving Governor Chris Christie and his staff allegedly creating traffic jams in Fort Lee, New Jersey for political reasons, mainly to get back at Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, who did not support Christie’s gubernatorial bid.
After Wray left the Justice Department, he joined the law firm King & Spalding, where he has continued to work to this day.
3. During the Bridgegate Trial, Christie’s Cell Phone Went Missing
Chris Christie make phone calls to voters at the Monmouth County Republican Headquarters on November 2, 2009 in Freehold, New Jersey. (Getty)
During the Bridgegate proceedings, the defendants’ lawyers were looking for Chris Christie’s cell phone, which would have had text messages and emails from the time when the lane closures were occurring. But for some time, the lawyers could not find the cell phone, with them alleging that Christie’s lawyers were hiding it.
“President Nixon’s tapes were not immune from a subpoena,” Michael Baldassare, attorney for defendant Bill Baroni, said at the time, according to WYNC. “Neither is Governor Christie’s phone.”
Christie said at the time that he had no idea where the phone was.
“I haven’t had it for two-plus years, but it’s in the hands of the government as far as I know,” Christie said. “I don’t know exactly who physically has it. But I turned it over in response to requests from the government, as I said I would.”
4. Wray Was Found to Be In Possession of the Missing Cell Phone
Chris Christie takes questions at a news conference on March 3, 2016. (Getty)
Then, in July 2016, the missing cell phone was found to be in the possession of Christopher Wray, according to NJ.com.
However, a federal judge ended up dismissing the defendant’s request for a subpoena, and so the contents of this phone were never seen.
According to NJ.com, the phone was first turned over to the Chris Christie administration’s law firm, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. The firm then returned the phone to Wray, who reportedly still has it to this day.
5. Chris Christie Says Wray is a Great Pick for FBI Director
Chris Christie and Donald Trump at a Republican debate at St. Anselm College February 6, 2016 in Manchester, New Hampshire. (Getty)
Christopher Wray’s name had previously been floated for FBI director, and when Chris Christie was asked for his thoughts on this, he said that he thought Wray would be a great choice.
“I have the utmost confidence in Chris,” Christie said, according to the Asbury Park Press. “He’s an outstanding lawyer. He has absolute integrity and honesty, and I think that the president certainly would not be making a mistake if he asked Chris Wray to be FBI director.”
During this press conference, Christie would not say whether he had any involvement in the decision.