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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a potential Republican candidate in 2016 presidential campaign, said Tuesday he accepted the full responsibility for the scandal surrounding the lane closures on a highly busy bridge in the fall last year.
In his State of the State address Tuesday, Christie acknowledged mistakes and promised not to repeat the "breach of trust" before moving on to take credit for the state's improved economy and laying out his policy agenda.
"The last week has certainly tested this administration. Mistakes were clearly made. And as a result, we let down the people we are entrusted to serve," Christie said. "I am the governor and I am ultimately responsible for all that happens on my watch - both good and bad."
Emails and texts disclosed by media since Wednesday showed that a top aide to the Republican governor sought to close lanes of George Washington Bridge, which connects New Jersey and New York City, in September in retribution for a local Democratic city mayor who failed to endorse Christie in his re-election campaign.
Christie apologized at a marathon press conference Thursday and fired the top aide behind the scandal.
Tuesday's State of the State address was Christie's first public appearance following last week's press conference and came after new details of the full-blown scandal continued to emerge and gain nationwide attention this week.
"Without a doubt, we will cooperate with all appropriate inquiries to ensure this breach of trust does not happen again. But I also want to assure the people of New Jersey today that what has occurred does not define us or our state," reiterated Christie in his address, who quickly pivoted from the scandal to his policy agenda, including priorities in property-tax relief and education reform.
