MSNBC host Chris Matthews drew applause from the studio audience on The View on Tuesday after he advised the aides who were released by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie after they were shown to be complicit in the allegedly vindictive closure of two lanes of the George Washington Bridge in 2013 to fight back against the governor. Matthews said that Christie has attempted to “poison the jury pool” by denouncing his former aide, Bridget Kelly, for having lied to him added that he would “come back with everything I had” on Christie.

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When asked if Christie’s 2016 prospects had been damaged by the scandal, Matthews replied that he is not sure if Christie ever asked his aides about the excessive traffic leading into Manhattan from the George Washington Bridge in September, 2013. “That’s the dog that hasn’t barked here,” he told The View’s hosts.

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“My question is going to be answered when Bridget Kelly shows up in the witness booth and she’s under oath, and she’s

been called a liar a number of times by the governor who is trying to destroy the jury pool, by saying she’s a liar to start with,” Matthews added. “If I were her I would come back with everything I had against this guy.”

Matthews’ suggestion was met with applause from the studio audience.

He later noted that Christie, polls suggest, was the greatest threat to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the GOP routinely nominates moderate Republicans for president. He added, since Christie has been disqualified by the bridge scandal, that the party will now have to court former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to run in 2016.

Watch the clip below via MSNBC:

[Photo via screen grab ]

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Tags: Bridget Kelly, Chris Christie, Chris Matthews, Hillary Clinton, Jeb!, The View