Governor Chris Christie said he has "no regrets" for calling an ex-Navy SEAL an "idiot" during a town hall in Burlington County last week.

Governor Chris Christie
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"Just because he was a Navy SEAL doesn't give him the right to be a jerk" Christie said at a press conference in Bordentown Monday on education reform.

William Brown, 34, of Mt. Laurel was escorted from a Christie town hall in Roebling on Thursday after asking a question about a Rutgers-Rowan merger, which he opposes.

Thursday's exchange ended with Christie berating the Mount Laurel man, who had interrupted the governor several times The governor said: "Let me tell you something, after you graduate from law school, you conduct yourself like that in a courtroom, your rear end's going to be thrown in jail, idiot."

On Monday, Christie said he was tired of being cut off as he tried to answer. "He interrupted me four different times."

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Christie also said that Brown came into the town hall with a "political agenda." "He was a candidate for state Assembly in the 8th district...not some guy with a nonpartisan question for the governor. He was trying to make me look like bad and if you're going to come to a town hall and do that...then you're going to get shouted back."

The governor did honor Brown's service in the military. "I honor his service in Iraq and Afghanistan...but that does not give you a right when you come home from that service to be an idiot."

Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) said Christie should apologize to Brown.

"Unless Governor Christie is using his town hall meetings to audition for a spot on the Real Housewives of New Jersey, he should apologize immediately for his immature and nasty remarks. Governor Christie should remember that he works for Mr. Brown and millions of other New Jersey citizens, not the other way around."

 

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