Christie, above it all

Fade in: Wednesday in Washington, former Donald Trump butler and almost-former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie made his White House debut, helping host a worthy forum on opioid addiction. Christie, who has seen drug addiction destroy someone close to him, brought clarity and emotion to a wrenching conversation.

As head of a new presidential commission on the crisis, the big guy in the big job moves onto a passion project that will no doubt give him a sense of purpose as he looks for any escape from Trenton and the worst approval level of anyone since the invention of opinion surveys.

Cut to: Federal court in Newark, where two Christie flunkies are moving on to something far less auspicious.

Former Christie aide Bridget Anne Kelly and ex Port Authority honcho Bill Baroni got a year and a half and two years in lockup, respectively, for plotting to create Bridgegate, a multi-day traffic jam as political payback, then lying about it.

Along with David Wildstein, Christie’s hatchet man at the Port, they are guilty of crimes against the people of their state. Felons, their names besmirched, their lives forever stained.

Their old boss, who they all said knew about the plot against Fort Lee, only suffered humiliation. But at least he enjoys freedom, White House access and a clean criminal record.

Fade out.