Chris Christie's actions drew criticisms from New Jersey citizens and Democrat lawmakers. Representative Annette Quijano pointed out to the Associated Press that the then-governor's use of the helicopters could have deprived someone in need of them (via nj.com). Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle also highlighted that Christie had left with the helicopter during the fifth inning "to meet with wealthy Iowa political donors," according to nj.com.
However, Governor Christie remained unapologetic. He stated that his actions had helped the pilots by adding additional miles flown on their logs to retain their certifications (per CBS). The politician said he was a "governor 24/7 every single day" but also a father, justifying his helicopter use.
Chris Christie eventually relented two days later, on June 2, 2011, and paid $2,251 for his personal use of the helicopter. The State Republican Committee paid an additional $919 to balance his payments. The then-governor remarked that his payments were made to refocus attention on the more pressing matters and to eliminate distractions from "hacks," as CBS reported.
