Christie: I was right to prosecute Kushner Sr.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Sunday responded to President Trump’s pardon of Charles Kushner — the real estate developer that the then-US attorney Christie prosecuted in 2004 — saying only that it highlighted the “extraordinary” work of his office.

“What it doesn’t overshadow is the extraordinary work that my office did 16 years ago,” Christie said on ABC News’ “This Week.” “Let’s remember, the case was not tried. Mr. Kushner pled guilty. So we’ll stand on the record of our prosecution at that time and of the conduct that was engaged in the case.”

Trump pardoned Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, last week along with former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and longtime associate Roger Stone.

Christie once said the prosecution of the elder Kushner was for “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes.”

Kushner, a wealthy real estate developer in New Jersey, admitted in 2004 to a plan that involved hiring a prostitute to seduce his brother-inlaw, taping the liaison and then sending the video to his sister.

He devised the unsuccessful scheme after discovering that his brother-inlaw was assisting federal authorities who were investigating Kushner.

Kushner, who admitted to personally recruiting the prostitute, served two years in federal prison for tax evasion, retaliating against a witness and lying to the Federal Election Commission.

The White House in announcing the pardon said that his “record of reform and charity overshadows” his crimes.