Report: Trump to name Christie to head panel on opioid addiction

1 Philadelphia

Philadelphia News & Search

1 News - 1 eMovies - 1 eMusic - 1 eBooks - 1 Search

President Trump plans to announce later this week that he has picked the New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to head up a drug commission devoted to the opioid abuse problem, The Washington Post is reporting

Christie and first-son-in-law Jared Kushner, a senior adviser to the president, have been working on the issue for several weeks, the paper reported.

Kushner has been tasked with putting together a SWAT team of consultants to take on issues such as opioid abuse, which Trump often spoke about while on the campaign trail.

Trump taps Chris Christie to tackle the opioid epidemic — here’s a fix he might explore https://t.co/Fcrgudks5q pic.twitter.com/5zE1Vqg0Fm

— Business Insider (@businessinsider) March 27, 2017

What is not clear yet is how much Christie would need to devote to the panel’s work.

Christie has said he plans to spend much of his last year in office combating drug addiction in New Jersey.

Chris Christie’s next act: leading a Trump commission on the opioid epidemic, an issue he has been passionate about https://t.co/3wsYiVWNX6 pic.twitter.com/XKFXgMm98u

— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) March 27, 2017

After dropping out of the presidential race, the N.J. governor was reported to have been under consideration for vice president and attorney general but was passed over. He has said he was asked to join the Trump administration but turned down the posts so he can serve his last year as governor.

Published: March 27, 2017 — 9:23 AM EDT

Do you have a minute?…

Over the past year, the Inquirer, the Daily News and Philly.com have uncovered corruption in local and state public offices, shed light on hidden and dangerous environmental risks, and deeply examined the region’s growing heroin epidemic. This is indispensable journalism, brought to you by the largest, most experienced newsroom in the region. Fact-based journalism of this caliber isn’t cheap. We need your support to keep our talented reporters, editors and photographers holding government accountable, looking out for the public interest, and separating fact from fiction. If you already subscribe, thank you. If not, please consider doing so by clicking on the button below. Subscriptions can be home delivered in print, or digitally read on nearly any mobile device or computer, and start as low as 25¢ per day.
We’re thankful for your support in every way.