Christie attended NBA Finals on PAC’s dime

Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals earlier this week with a ticket paid for by his political action committee, a report says.

Christie’s Leadership Matters for America PAC funded his travel to Cleveland on Tuesday for the hotly anticipated basketball game, according to the National Journal.

{mosads}It also bought Christie’s near-courtside seat to the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.

Christie’s state spokesman told the National Journal on Thursday afternoon that the governor’s appearance at the contest was “through the PAC,” it said.

His spokesman added that Christie, a possible 2016 GOP presidential candidate, was in Ohio attending private and fundraising meetings the day of tipoff.

He declined to discuss any link those activities may have had with Tuesday night’s NBA game.

The National Journal said on Thursday that Christie’s PAC had not filed any receipts or disbursements with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) over his attendance at Tuesday night’s game.

The Columbus Dispatch posted Twitter photos on Wednesday showing Christie sitting next to Urban Meyer, the head football coach for Ohio State University, during Tuesday night’s game.

Christie has previously faced questions over his spending habits at other sporting events.

An analysis released last month found that Christie had spent about $300,000 in taxpayer funds on food and drinks during his five years in office.

New Jersey Watchdog reported on May 11 that Christie had doled out more than $82,000 at MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and New York Jets franchises in the National Football League (NFL).

The New Jersey Republican State Commission (NJRSC) later reimbursed the state for the full $300,000, thus ensuring no cost to taxpayers.

Christie has additionally stopped using his office’s expense account while at sporting venues.

The New Jersey governor has said he is close to deciding whether he will seek the White House next year.

Should he run, he would enter one of the most crowded GOP presidential fields in history.

Republicans currently have nine official candidates on their ballots, with more possible in the coming months.

This story was updated at 1:14 p.m.