Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones paid for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to attend Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, including a ride on his private jet, aides to the governor confirm.
Aides to Christie said that the longtime Dallas football fan attended the game “as a guest of Jerry Jones, who provided both the ticket and transportation at no expense to New Jersey taxpayers."
Cameras captured Christie, clad in a “lucky” orange sweater, hugging Jones after the Cowboys’ last-minute win.
New Jersey law allows that a governor "may accept gifts, favors, services, gratuities, meals, lodging or travel expenses from relatives or personal friends that are paid for with personal funds.”
But Christie has been criticized for his frequent appearances for a team much despised in his home state.
Christie told CBS Sports on Monday that he’s been to five Cowboys games this season and worn the same orange sweater to each one. The team won all five games he attended.
“Believe me, I will take all the abuse I'm taking from some of these folks in return for Cowboys playoff wins. As a fan, that's what it's all about,” he said.