According to disturbing new reporting from multiple outlets, former Trump ally and ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has found himself embroiled in quite a bit of controversy and scandal, and publications revealed and confirmed that his niece went on an unhinged, racist, and extremely violent tangent at Louis Armstrong International Airport on Thanksgiving Day, that ultimately got her kicked off the New Orleans flight, according to authorities with the Jefferson Parish sheriff’s office.
Capt. Jason Rivarde, a spokesperson for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, confirmed that 25-year-old Shannon Epstein boarded the Spirit Airlines flight from New Orleans to New Jersey at around 6 a.m. on November 24th, and almost immediately spun out into a racism and hate-fueled tirade against a family who was seated in close proximity to her, whom she apparently perceived to be Latino, and asked them if they were “smuggling cocaine” on the flight. Epstein became increasingly irate, to the point that airline workers requested that the young woman be removed from the flight. Rivarde confirmed that, because of Epstein, the plane that had already begun to taxi down the runway was forced to return to the gate to remove Christie’s niece from the plane.
Upon the arrival of deputies with the sheriff’s office, Shannon refused to exit the jet bridge into the terminal. Rivarde confirmed that deputies eventually attempted to arrest her, at which point Epstein became “extremely combative.”
Rivarde stated that Epstein ultimately injured a total of 6 law enforcement agents as she kicked, bit, and even spit at deputies, kicking one in the groin and biting another hard enough to break skin. Epstein was violent enough that the deputies had to be seen by paramedics on the scene.
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In the midst of her violent attack, Epstein reportedly screamed at authorities that they were going to lose their jobs and/or end up jailed, as she bragged about her powerful uncle, Chris Christie, who is close to former President Donald Trump. NOLA.com reports, “Chris Christie did not return messages left Friday at two telephone numbers associated with him.”
Rivarde said that a staggering seven deputies were needed to get Epstein handcuffed to a wheelchair and moved to the airport security office as she continued to shout disgusting profanity and tried to bite officers.
NOLA’s report reads, “They booked Epstein with six counts of battery on a police officer, three of disturbing the peace, one of resisting arrest by force and one of remaining after forbidden, Rivarde said. She paid $10,750 bail and was released from the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center later on Thanksgiving Day.”
“Epstein is scheduled to return to Jefferson Parish for court on Jan. 23, although Rivarde said most airline-related cases move to federal court.”
Featured image via Flickr/Gage Skidmore, under Creative Commons license 2.0
