New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday offered his solution to the dilemma surrounding Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and said the state government should simply “move her to another job.”
The Republican presidential candidate said the current controversy surrounding the county clerk could have been avoided had officials charged Davis with a different task upon learning of her religious objections.
“What I would do with this woman is to move her to another job where this is not an objection for her, because you have to follow the law, and the law is these licenses have to be issued,” Christie said Tuesday on Fox News.
“If she has a religious objection, we should move her to another job inside the government,” he repeated.
Asked what would happen if Davis refused to switch to a different public sector job, Christie responded, “then there’s going to be an issue.”
“But I think we should give her an option to do another job where her religious concerns are not put into the crosshairs on this,” he added. “And so we have to have respect for people, but the government also has to function.”
The New Jersey governor briefly prefaced his remarks by acknowledging that freedom of religion is a constitutionally protected right, but took a dig at candidates who’ve pledged in solidarity with Davis and plan to visit her in the county jail.
“Frankly, I don’t think you should grandstand on this stuff,” he said.
Tuesday marked Davis’ sixth day behind bars after a U.S. District Court judge ordered her detainment last week. Two other GOP contenders, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, will visit her in jail Tuesday before participating in a “I’m With Kim” rally focused on defending religious freedom.
