This, even though in 2009, the year Christie was elected governor and after he spent six years as U.S. attorney in New Jersey, a New Jersey judge actually referenced sharia law in his decision. The case involved the judge’s refusal of a temporary restraining order for a divorced Muslim woman who had been raped and assaulted by her ex-husband, who maintained that Islamic doctrine requires wives to comply with all of their husbands’ sexual demands. Under current New Jersey law, non-consensual sex between married persons is considered rape. Fortunately, the decision was overturned 13 months later, but no thanks to any action by Christie.
In another instance, Christie placed the sensitivity of Muslims above the constitutional rights of a New Jersey Transit worker. When Derek Fenton was fired by the transit authority for burning pages of the Koran at the planned site of the Ground Zero mosque on the 9th anniversary of 9/11, Christie approved his termination. Fenton, who was not in uniform and was on his own time, was clearly exercising his constitutional rights. But Christie dismissed the ACLU’s criticism of Christie’s utter disregard for the First Amendment, saying of Fenton’s actions, “That kind of intolerance is unacceptable.”
The significance of Bridgegate, however extensive, pales in comparison to Christie’s deeply troubling relationships with terrorist-sympathizers and supporters in the New Jersey Muslim community. He has sheltered known Islamists from law enforcement, excused their hateful rhetoric, ignored threats to national security, criticized legitimate law enforcement activities, and dismissed constitutional rights — all to pander to a Muslim constituency.
That someone of Christie’s leanings could wield the power of a U.S. attorney and then a governor is concerning enough. To imagine him at the helm of the country is a frightening prospect.