Christie knows all about the case, so why is he stalling?
Aitken deserved an immediate pardon.
In politics, everything is seen as a potential weapon. The question is always how best to use it. If Christie pardons him now, he stands alone. If he waits until the new Congress is sworn in, he's seen as supporting the new wave of conservatism, and can use that to start a campaign. In the mean time, he lets the guy rot and calls it careful thought about upholding the law. And if he never pardons him, it's because he's protecting the safety of the people of New Jersey, and the political winds don't support a pardon helping him run for higher office.
The actual guy in jail, and the actual obscene law he's jailed under, do not matter at all. To even bring these issues up would just get a laugh from Christie at your naivete.
IMHO, because Christie is ANTI-GUN!
I don't think he could (or should) ever run for President as a Republican until he gets his head out of his ass on the 2A...
I've been watching and discussing this case in another venue, and unfortunately, from the evidence of Christie's prior record, I'm not hopeful he'll do the right thing. He has a clear anti-gun and anti-2nd Amendment record, and I suspect that Talisker's assessment in post #18 is more correct.
For all those Freepers who have been touting Christie as a Presidential prospect, this is a decision that will make or break his chances. However, it's possible that he reads the political wind astutely and is Machiavellian enough to rule against his own desires and pardon the guy (boob bait for the bubbas is an effective ploy). I won't be holding my breath, though.
Christie is weak on support for the 2nd Amendment that’s why he’s dragging his feet, if he does anything at all.