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Claims executive privilege concerning dinner at Upstate New York home

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Gov. Chris Christie wants to keep the details of what went on at a dinner meeting he had with Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, a Republican strategist, and radio commentator Rush Limbaugh in Ailes Upstate New York home on the down low.

Gawker.com, a gossip website, stated Friday that Christie’s office has refused a request to provide it emails that could be related to the meeting. Christie’s aides declined to confirm if emails exist or if the meeting took place.

Last month, New York magazine reported that the governor, Ailes and Limbaugh met. Ailes has acknowledged the meeting took place.

The aides told Gawker.com that if emails exist, they would be protected under executive privilege.

"In other words, Christie's staff refused to search for any records—which, given the undisputed reports of a dinner and phone call, almost certainly exist—on the basis that Ailes is a confidential adviser whose comments should be shielded from public scrutiny," Gawker.com stated.

It is not the first time Christie has refused to provide records under the state Open Public Records Law. Last year, the governor claimed executive privilege when legislators requested records about his administration’s failed federal Race to the Top application. He eventually provided them when legislators threatened to issue a subpoena. Former Gov. Jon Corzine also used executive privilege to withhold emails between him and Carla Katz, a former girlfriend and union attorney.