The report moments ago class action lawsuit has now been filed against governor Chris Christie, former top aide bridge Anne Kelly and two former Christie appointees to the Port Authority which operates the George Washington  Bridge. Now the suit claims the planners were "Trapped on the roadways for considerable period of time" forced them to arrive late for work to be docked pay and do other economic hardships. The also the breaking news tonight late were that we'll be getting more than 900 new documents tomorrow related to this whole affair. We are fascinating to see how they affect the arc of the story if they do and whether any of them speak to another big question namely whether the governor's well-known sharp xxx  I guess you can say, short temper contributed to the current scandal. At the news conference today, governor Christie addressed the issue.

 

I'm not a bully. And what I will tell you is that the folks who have worked with me over a long period of time would I believe tell you that I'm tough, but I've shown over the last four years in the tone that we've set here that I'm willing to compromise, that I'm willing to work with others. And the campaign show with all of the folks who came from the other side of the aisle to support us that if we weren't willing to have relationship with those folks, I would have never happened that way.

 

Governor Christie today suggesting he's not the kind of politician who pushes people around. Keep them honest, there is plenty of bad evidence that he may be including his reaction to a doctor publicly questioned his medical fitness to serve. 

 

This is just another hack wo wants five minutes on TV. If she wants to get on the plane and come here to New Jersey and ask me if she wants to examine me and review my medical history. I'll have a conversation with her about that. Until that time she should shut up. 

 

His critics say if he is thin skinned. His supporters say he is direct, honest and straight-talking kind of guy. Tom Forman has more. 

 

Born in the state with a long history of of heaveyweight brawling, Chris Christie learned early that his combative way could be costly. In 1995, he tried to charge throught the Republican old guard to win an assembly seat and was crushed at the polls, leading to years of quiet work in the political background.  Yet after being elected governor in 2009 and re-elected in 2013, the tough guy once again took center stage. 

 

Maybe the folks in Washington DC should turn on their TVs right now, see how it's done. 

 

Christie has famously bad reporters.

 

Did I say on topic? Are you stupid? On topic, on topic, next question.

If what you want to do is put on a show and giggle every time I talk, well, then I  have no interest in answering your question.

 

Voters are fair game, too.

 

I ask you where you send your kids to school, don't bother me about where I send mine. 

 

He spoons out advice like bitter medicine. 

 

Let me tell you something, after you graduate from law school, you conduct yourself like that in a courtroom, your rear end's gonna get thrown in jail, idiot. 

 

And through it all, he walks a political tight rope. 

 

Some people won't like his style. They'll see him as too tough, too angry, too obnoxious. 

 

So there is a risk in being this brusque and brash about things. 

 

Absolutely, but that's more, more than outweighed by his reputation as a straight talker, a straighter shooter, not your typical politician. And in this day and age, that is a huge plus not to be a typical politician. 

 

I don't hide my emotions from people. 

 

So although Christie  is apologizing over the bridge incident now, sorry is a word that fits him like a bad suit and one he seldom says. 

 

Tom Forman, CNN, Washington.