Christie still wants O'Dowd for attorney general

KEANSBURG (AP) — Gov. Chris Christie (R) says he still wants his chief of staff to become the state's next attorney general.

Chief of Staff Kevin O'Dowd in January as Gov. Chris Christie announced his nomination to become New Jersey's next Attorney General. (Governor's Office/Tim Larsen)

Christie says he plans to sit down Monday with Kevin O'Dowd to discuss whether the aide is still interested in the job. Christie said the two had agreed to delay discussing the issue until after the budget was passed.

O'Dowd has been in a holding pattern because of the investigation into traffic jams near the George Washington Bridge. He testified before a legislative panel investigating the traffic jams in June and said he played no role in the apparent political retribution plot.

“My desire is for Kevin to be the attorney general,” he added. “He has to decide whether he wants to do it," explained the governor according to NJ.com.

Regina Egea has been tapped as O'Dowd's replacement. She's scheduled to testify in front of the panel later this month.