Chris Christie’s presidential ambitions were scuppered by Bridgegate; his niece allegedly disobeyed police orders to exit an airport jet bridge.
The November 24 incident involving the former Republican New Jersey governor’s niece began when she allegedly insulted other passengers.
Shannon Epstein, 25, boarded a Spirit Airlines flight from New Orleans to New Jersey around 6 a.m. that day. The former governor’s niece asked a family seated near her, whom she perceived to be Latino, if they were “smuggling cocaine,” said Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Captain Jason Rivarde.
Airline employees wanted Epstein removed from the plane once she became increasingly irate. The plane, which had started to taxi to the runway, returned to the gate, Rivarde said Friday, according to a NOLA report.
Epstein refused to exit the jet bridge into the terminal, Rivarde said, adding she became “extremely combative” when deputies tried to arrest her.
Christie’s niece scuffled with police, injuring six deputies, the report noted. She broke the skin of one deputy whom she bit on the arm and kicked another in the groin, according to Rivarde. Paramedics treated the deputies at the scene, according to the NOLA report.
Police said Epstein shouted throughout the encounter that the deputies were going to lose their jobs or end up in jail. Epstein boasted she was related to powerful people and her uncle is a friend of former President Donald Trump, Rivarde said.
It took seven sheriff’s deputies to handcuff Epstein to a wheelchair in order to transport the agitated passenger to the airport security office, Rivarde said. She shouted vulgarities the whole time and try to bite deputies, he added.
She was booked and charged with six counts of battery on a police officer, three of disturbing the peace, one of resisting arrest by force and one of remaining after forbidden, Rivarde said.
Epstein paid $10,750 bail, securing her release from the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center later Thanksgiving Day, according to the report.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.