CBS News: Trump's Son-In-Law Helped To Oust Christie As Running Mate Because Governor Sent His Father To Prison
NEW YORK (CBS/AP) -- Donald Trump's son-in-law played a part in the president-elect's decision to pull Gov. Chris Christie off the ticket, and it stems from the New Jersey governor putting Jared Kushner's father behind bars, CBS News reports.
According to CBS News, Trump initially chose Christie as his running mate in October, but just days before the Republican National Convention, he changed his mind and selected Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his vice president.
A source told CBS News the 35-year-old Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump, played a part in ousting Christie. In 2009, when Christie was a U.S. Attorney, he sent Kushner's father, real estate developer Charles Kushner, to prison for witness tampering, illegal campaign donations and tax evasion.
The elder Kushner was a Democratic political donor and spent 14 months in prison.
"It all goes back to his dad being prosecuted by Christie," the source told CBS News.
Jared Kushner reportedly arranged a plane to bring Pence to New York to meet Trump about being his VP.
"Pence showing up caught Trump off guard and pretty much boxed in the decision," the source explained to CBS News.
Many also believe Kushner was behind Christie being demoted from the transition team and being replaced by Pence.
"There are people who are in and people who are out," former Congressman Mike Rogers, who was also ousted from Trump's transition team, told CNN. "And the people who have been asked to move on have some relationship with Chris Christie."
However, the president-elect has rejected claims of chaos and infighting straining his transition, declaring that he is running a "very organized process."
"Very organized process taking place as I decide on Cabinet and many other positions. I am the only one who knows who the finalists are!" Trump tweeted.
Despite Trump's assurances, people close to the transition process described advisers "fighting for power" as the Republican plunges into the enormous task of setting up his administration. Trump will be inaugurated Jan. 20.
The billionaire businessman has effectively created two power centers in his White House even before taking office. He named Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus as his chief of staff and flame-throwing media mogul Steve Bannon as his chief strategist, calling them "equal partners."
Some people close to Trump's efforts expressed misgivings with the uncertain organization. They weren't authorized to discuss internal deliberations publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
"The beginning of any transition like this has turmoil because it's just the nature of the process," Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, an ardent Trump ally, said as he left Trump's transition headquarters in Washington. "I think what you're seeing will become clearer over the next two or three weeks as they build out the Cabinet and figure out some civic things."
Advisers arrived at Trump Tower Wednesday for meetings, including Eric Trump, who told reporters it was "likely" some positions would be announced during the day. However, Trump spokesman Jason Miller later said the team was "not going to rush to put names forward until we're absolutely sure."
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