House Speaker John Boehner says he believes Chris Christie remains a serious contender for the Republican 2016 presidential nomination, despite the traffic jam scandal engulfing the New Jersey governor.

Reporters asked Boehner about Christie’s problems on Thursday, even as the governor was holding a news conference in Trenton, N.J.

The Ohio Republican quipped that he hadn’t been fortunate enough to have seen Christie’s news conference. He said little about the governor’s situation.

Asked whether Christie remains a top 2016 GOP contender for the presidential nomination, Boehner said, “I think so. I think so.”

Documents show Christie’s staff helped arrange massive traffic jams last September in Fort Lee, N.J., to retaliate against the town’s Democratic mayor, who had not endorsed Christie’s re-election.

(AP)