TRENTON, N.J. — A flurry of investigations and heavy snowfall cast a cloud over the inauguration of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who was sworn in for a second term Tuesday.
Christie did not address the swirling storm over his aides’ role in causing a days-long traffic snarl last year. Instead, the Republican struck an inclusive tone, extending an open hand to Democrats and encouraging compassion.
“We have to be willing to play outside the red and blue boxes the media and pundits put us in,” Christie said. “We have to be willing to personally reach out a helping hand to a neighbor suffering from drug addiction, depression or the dignity-stripping loss of a job.”
His speech came less than an hour after Democratic lawmakers consolidated twin probes into allegations that aides engineered traffic jams in September as political payback.
