Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Chris Christie Not Sorry He Called "Jerk" Navy SEAL An "Idiot"


By

Christopher Robbins

Published Mar 13, 2012

Modified Mar 13, 2012


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Christopher Robbins

Published Mar 13, 2012

Modified Mar 13, 2012


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Chris Christie isn't sorry that he called a Rutgers law student and veteran Navy SEAL an "idiot" during a town hall meeting last week. “Just because he was a Navy SEAL doesn’t give him the right to be a jerk,” Christie told reporters. “This was a guy with a political agenda who came in and wanted to try and make me look bad and not let me answer the question. He can cry his crocodile tears all he wants." Yes, because the only person who is allowed to have a political agenda is the Governor of New Jersey.

Christie's reference to law student Bill Brown's "agenda" refers to his run for an Assembly seat in 2009. But Brown and Christie have spoken before, once when Brown was a veteran's advocate during Christie's campaign and again on a call-in show. He tells the Star-Ledger that he expected Christie to be "cordial" because before he "looked into my eyes and really appeared like he was listening." Oh, Bill. That was Campaign Christie, this is Governor Christie.

“I think one of the big things that concerns me is the fact that Governor Christie is so popular and that he publicly humiliated me in front of everyone,” Brown said. “After New Jersey citizens saw what happened, I think there’s going to be deterrent for people to get up and question his policies. And this isn’t the first time he’s done that.”

Tagged

Chris Christie

gop

navy seal

new jersey

public discourse

republicans

rutgers


Christopher Robbins

Twitter

Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center

Because the vote against it was unanimous, here are your early links: Jacket weather, swishing your Guinness, spooky decorations in North Jersey and more.

By

James Ramsay

Published Oct 14, 2026 at 8:28 a.m. ET


Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says

Police arrested 22-year-old Sobirjon Abdurazakov for a hit-and-run that killed a 62-year old Lyft driver.

By

Brittany Kriegstein

News

Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says

Police arrested 22-year-old Sobirjon Abdurazakov for a hit-and-run that killed a 62-year old Lyft driver.

By

Brittany Kriegstein


NY measles outbreak more widespread than official count, health officials say

By

Caroline Lewis

A NYC judge brought his gun into court for an ‘experiment’. Now he’s censured.

By

Samantha Max

The Bronx is getting a new casino and a reimagined Ferry Point Park, too

By

Willow Higgins


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .