Rep. King Rips Gov. Christie For Criticizing NYPD Muslim Surveillance
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Long Island Congressman Peter King says New Jersey's governor should be thanking the NYPD for its counterterrorism work.
King told Fox Business Network on Wednesday that Gov. Chris Christie is letting his personal feelings get in the way of protecting New Jersey residents from terrorism.
"He should be welcoming New York City and anyone else who wants to come in or out of his state, work with them and cooperate with them because terrorists go back and forth across city and state lines all the time," King said.
Christie has criticized the NYPD for doing surveillance of Muslim communities in New Jersey without notifying local police or the FBI.
Christie also responded Wednesday to King's comments by accusing his fellow Republican, of trying to attract publicity.
"Congressman King, he should really just keep quiet," Christie told reporters. "He should worry about running for election. I think this is probably part of it because whenever he mentions my name he gets himself on TV."
The head of the FBI in New Jersey said those operations have damaged the relationship between Muslim leaders and law enforcement. Civil rights groups also have urged the U.S. attorney general to take action against the NYPD.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the NYPD will operate anywhere in the United States if it believes it's necessary to prevent terrorism.
Christie said he has no problem with that as long as local police are informed and briefed on the findings.
"If I ever sent New Jersey law enforcement over there and we didn't share the information with the NYPD, can you imagine the screaming and yelling that would be going on from New York City about that?" Christie said.
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