Chris Christie’s Niece Assaulted 6 Cops As She Was Kicked Off a Spirit Airlines Plane on Thanksgiving

A 25-year-old niece of former Gov. Chris Christie was arrested on Thanksgiving after being removed from an airplane in Louisiana for allegedly asking a family, who appeared to be Latino, if they were smuggling cocaine, and then injuring six deputy sheriff’s officers, according to a published report.

Shannon Epstein was “extremely combative” when authorities arrived at the scene around 6 a.m. Nov. 24 at Louis Armstrong International Airport, according to a statement provided Sunday from the Jefferson Parish, La., Sheriff’s Office to NJ Advance Media.

Epstein allegedly shouted that the deputies were going to lose their jobs or end up in jail. She also said she was related to powerful people and that her uncle is a friend of former President Trump, according to the nola.com story.

“During her arrest, she injured 6 deputies, biting one and kicking another in the groin. She was eventually secured in a wheelchair and removed from the area,” read the statement provided to NJ Advance Media. It did not mention Trump or Christie — who supported Trump during his two campaigns but has since broken from the former president.

According to the report, the Spirit Airline flight had started to taxi down the runway, headed for New Jersey, when the incident occurred. Airline workers asked that officials remove Epstein from the plane because she became increasingly irate. The plane returned to the gate but Epstein refused to get off, even after deputies arrived.

“Throughout her entire interaction with deputies, she repeatedly stated that they would lose their jobs or be arrested because of her familial relationships,” the statement read.

Epstein was charged with multiple counts of battery on a police officer, resisting a police officer with force and remaining after forbidden, according to the sheriff’s office. She was released later on $10,750 bond on Thanksgiving, according to nola.com.

The incident was first reported by nola.com on Saturday, the website for The Times-Picayune / The New Orleans Advocate.

Christie, who is making early moves for a possible presidential run in 2024, did not immediately respond Sunday to a request for comment.

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Rob Jennings may be reached at [email protected].

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