Christie Ousted as Head of Trump Transition Team

Chris Christie headed Donald Trump's presidential transition team for months. Three days after voters decided that transition would actually happen, Trump replaced Christie with Mike Pence. The New York Times reports Trump wanted Pence's experience and Washington contacts. And according to NBC News, Trump was mad that Christie hadn't been a more vocal supporter, especially when the campaign looked to be in trouble. The recent conviction of his aides in Bridgegate didn't help Christie either. Trump says Pence "will build on the initial work" done by Christie to "help prepare a transformative government ready to lead from day one," CNBC reports.

Christie has been bumped down to vice chair of the transition team, a position also held by Rudy Giuliani, Newt Gingrich, Ben Carson, and others. The rest of the transition team includes Trump's adult children, Stephen Bannon, Peter Thiel, Reince Priebus, and more. Despite promises to "drain the swamp" in Washington, Trump appears to be leaning heavily on Washington insiders to fill cabinet positions. Among the names floated for eventual positions include the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, a past chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and the chairman of the Financial Services Committee. (More Chris Christie stories.)