Giuliani: N.J. governor faces ‘partisan witch hunt’

TRENTON, N.J. — Former New York Republican Mayor Rudy Giuliani says Democrats are engaged in a partisan pile-on as New Jersey GOP Gov. Chris Christie faces a traffic jam scandal that’s testing his administration and threatening his political future.

Giuliani told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday: “It clearly is a partisan witch hunt.”

But Democrat John Wisniewski says a bipartisan panel is conducting the legislative investigation.

Giuliani defended Christie amid allegations that top aides closed lanes near the George Washington Bridge to back up traffic as apparent political payback.

Giuliani also downplayed an accusation from Hoboken’s Democratic Mayor Dawn Zimmer, who alleges Christie’s administration withheld storm aid because she refused to endorse a politically connected real estate venture.

Christie’s office denies those claims.

Wisniewski says Zimmer’s claims are being taken seriously.