BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- People hoping to visit Island Beach State Park in New Jersey this holiday weekend were not allowed in because of the state government shutdown Gov. Chris Christie ordered amid the state budget standoff in Trenton.
But there was one family there: Gov. Christie's. It is using the summer beach house provided by the state for a weekend down the Shore.
And here are exclusive aerial photos by NJ Advance Media showing Christie surrounded by wife, Mary Pat, and others.
They were taken early Sunday afternoon before the governor headed to Trenton to hold another news conference about the shutdown.
At a Sunday news conference on the shutdown, Christie was asked if he got any sun today.
"I didn't," he said. "... I didn't get any sun today."
When later told of the photo, Brian Murray, the governor's spokesman, said:
"Yes, the governor was on the beach briefly today talking to his wife and family before heading into the office. He did not get any sun. He had a baseball hat on."
Christie, who first disclosed his weekend plans on Monday, said Sunday he was taking the state helicopter to go back and forth between Island Beach State Park and Trenton.
"I traveled there and I traveled back and I'll travel back again," said Christie. "That's where my family is sleeping, so that's where I'll sleep tonight. When I have a choice between sleeping with my family, and sleeping alone, I generally like to sleep where my family is."
Christie told reporters Saturday that the the beach house is separate from the park and that his family will not ask for any state services.
Asked if this is fair, Christie said Saturday: "Run for governor, and you can have a residence there."
But critics have taken Christie to task for the situation on social media.
NJ Advance Media staff writer Claude Brodesser-Akner contributed to this report.