Ethics Complaint Filed Against Christie For Visiting Closed Beach

Gov. Chris Christie used his position unethically when he and his family sunned themselves at Island Beach State Park after he ordered state operations closed due to a budget spat with the state legislature, a West New York attorney says.

Mario M. Blanch filed the complaint with the State Ethics Commission on Wednesday, according to a report by nj.com.

"The governor and his family hold no special privileges over the residents and citizens of the state of New Jersey," the complaint says. "By using the park, 'in direct contravention to the shutdown,' (Christie) utilized his position as governor ... to obtain benefits for himself and his family that members of the general public could not enjoy for themselves."

No members of the state's executive branch can obtain a "special benefit" as a result of their position, according to the "Plain Language Guide to New Jersey's Executive Branch Ethics Standards," the complaint states.

Christie's shutdown order meant business owners lost money and many traveling to the beach over the Fourth of July weekend were inconvenienced, he said.

Blanch told nj.com he was "outraged" when he saw the pictures of Christie and his family relaxing on an empty beach.

"No person is above the law, and Gov. Christie had no right to plop himself in a beach chair when the general public did not have access to the beach," Blanch said. "The governor's actions are unfair, outrageous, and completely unethical. Gov. Christie should plop himself somewhere else, because New Jersey does not need politicians who only care about themselves."

The complaint also asks the ethics committee to find Christie violated state ethics guidelines, impose fines and sanctions and demand that Christie pay restitution for the cost of renting a private beach in New Jersey over the holiday weekend.

Christie has defended his use of Island Beach during the shutdown. His office did not provide a comment on the ethics complaint.

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Images: sculpture photo by Dave Bobal, used with permission