Former Christie political aide lands senior role at State Dept.

Matt Mowers, a former top campaign aide to Gov. Christie, has landed a senior role in the Trump administration.

Mowers is a White House adviser at the State Department, according to a department official. Mowers stood behind Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Thursday while the newly appointed secretary addressed employees at the department for the first time.

A State Department official said she could not elaborate on Mowers' responsibilities.

Mowers ran Christie's presidential campaign operation in New Hampshire and later joined the Trump campaign.

He cut his teeth in New Jersey politics, eventually joining the Christie administration and working on the Republican governor's campaigns. While working in the now-defunct Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs in Trenton, Mowers was responsible for engaging with local officials in North Jersey.

Part of his portfolio was to serve as the administration's point of contact for Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich. Mowers courted Sokolich's endorsement for Christie's 2013 reelection campaign, but the Democratic mayor, a real estate lawyer, declined to do so, citing potential backlash from his clients.

Federal prosecutors say other Christie aides retaliated against Sokolich in September 2013 by closing local access lanes from Fort Lee to the George Washington Bridge, causing days of massive traffic jams.

Three former Christie allies have been convicted of federal crimes in connection with the bridge scheme. Mowers was not accused of wrongdoing.

Mowers isn't the only Christie alumnus to join the Trump administration. Former Christie campaign manager Bill Stepien is the White House political director.