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When asked whether he got sun at the beach yesterday, Gov. Chris Christie said no. Photos say otherwise 

Christie, family soak up sun on beach he closed to public

Andrew Mills and Claude Brodesser-Akner report for NJ.com:



BERKELEY TOWNSHIP — People hoping to visit Island Beach State Park this holiday weekend were not allowed in because of the state government shutdown Gov. Chris Christie ordered amid the state budget standoff in Trenton.
But there was one family there: Christie’s. They are using the summer beach house provided by the state for a weekend down the Shore.
And here are exclusive aerial photos by NJ Advance Media showing Christie surrounded by wife, Mary Pat Christie, and others.
It was taken early Sunday afternoon before the governor headed to Trenton to hold another news conference about the shutdown.
Why N.J.'s state beaches are closed to everyone -- except Christie's family
Why N.J.’s state beaches are closed to everyone — except Christie’s family
Gov. Chris Christie and his family plans to spend the weekend at the governor’s beach house at Island Beach State Park, which closed today because of the state shutdown



At that news conference, Christie was asked if he got any sun Sunday.
“I didn’t,” he said. “I didn’t get any sun today.”
When later told of the photo, Brian Murray, the governor’s spokesman, said: “Yes, the governor was on the beach briefly today talking to his wife and family before heading into the office.”
“He did not get any sun,” Murray added. “He had a baseball hat on.”
Christie, who first disclosed his weekend plans on Monday, said Sunday he was taking the state helicopter to go back and forth between Island Beach State Park and Trenton.
“I traveled there and I traveled back and I’ll travel back again,” Christie said. “That’s where my family is sleeping, so that’s where I’ll sleep tonight. When I have a choice between sleeping with my family, and sleeping alone, I generally like to sleep where my family is.”
Christie told reporters Saturday that the the beach house is separate from the park and that his family will not ask for any state services.
Asked if this is fair, Christie said Saturday: “Run for governor, and you can have a residence there.”
But critics have taken Christie to task for the situation on social media. 

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Christie and His Family Get Beach to Themselves




Daniel Politi reports for Slate:

Families across the East Coast had their Fourth of July weekend plans ruined by a New Jersey government shutdown that closed state parks, beaches, and historical sites just as residents from the region were planning to head out on vacations. The state government shut down at midnight on Friday meaning many would-be vacationers headed to the state beaches only to be turned away (municipal parks and beaches remain open). One family whose plans were not affected? Governor Chris Christie’s, who were able to have a whole beach to themselves thanks to the shutdown.
Less than a day after Christie ordered all state parks and beaches closed, he headed to the Island Beach State Park on Saturday night. Christie took a State Police helicopter to the park on Saturday and did the same thing on Sunday. “That’s where my family is sleeping, so that’s where I’ll sleep tonight,” Christie told reporters on Sunday afternoon. “When I have a choice between sleeping with my family and sleeping alone, I generally like to sleep where my family is.” 
But it wasn’t just about sleeping. Christie also got a chance to soak up some rays. NJ Advance Media managed to take aerial photos of Christie and his family enjoying the beach at the 10-mile barrier island. The photos were taken Sunday afternoon before Christie headed back to Trenton for a news conference. 
At the news conference a reporter asked Christie if he got sun today. “I didn’t,” he replied. “I didn’t get any sun today.” His spokesman later tried to valiantly explain that lie when he was told about the aerial photographs: “Yes, the governor was on the beach briefly today talking to his wife and family before heading into the office. He did not get any sun. He had a baseball hat on.”
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Christie’s role in shutdown parallels #Bridgegate?

Assemblyman John Wisniewski says: The governor clearly has his own persona agenda at heart not unlike the George Washington Bridge scandal. This is a governor using the state as a bargaining chip to get what he wants.”

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