No one is above the rigid laws of the Amtrak quiet car -- not even a presidential candidate.
Governor Chris Christie, who was on the 9:55 a.m. Amtrak Acela train from Washington D.C. to New York Sunday, was kicked out of the quiet car for speaking too loudly on his phone, Gawker reports. A fellow quiet-car passenger, Alexander Mann, recounted the story.
He got on last minute yelling at his two secret service agents I think because of a seat mixup, sat down and immediately started making phone calls on the quiet car. After about 10 minutes the conductor asked him to stop or go to another car. He got up and walked out again yelling at his secret service. He was drinking a McDonald’s strawberry smoothie.
Mann adds, Christine was having an "intense phone conversation" and repeated the phrases, “this is frickin’ ridiculous” and “seriously?! seriously?!”
Let those who have never almost been kicked out of the quiet car while drinking a strawberry smoothie throw the first stone.
UPDATE: Oct. 25, 3:40 p.m.: A member of Chris Christie's team tells Mashable the governor was "not yelling or traveling with secret service."
"On a very full train this morning, the Governor accidentally took a seat in Amtrak's notorious quiet car. After breaking the cardinal rule of the quiet car, the Governor promptly left once he realized the serious nature of his mistake and enjoyed the rest of his time on the train from the cafe car. Sincere apologies to all the patrons of the quiet car that were offended," the rep says.
Another Amtrak passenger, Katie Klabusich, also tweeted disputing Gawker's original report, saying she witnessed his behavior and it was not in any way aggressive or loud.
Listen. I'm no @ChrisChristie fan, but this @Gawker story isn't close to accurate. He was sitting at my table. https://t.co/7hVBxvoaSs— Katie Klabusich (@Katie_Speak) October 25, 2015
About the @Gawker fail: @ChrisChristie was super courteous & possibly the least intrusive in-public phone person ever.— Katie Klabusich (@Katie_Speak) October 25, 2015
Obvi he was running late coming from a thing & got on the 1st open car, not realizing it was the quiet car b/c diff location on express.— Katie Klabusich (@Katie_Speak) October 25, 2015
When the conductor came by to check tickets he just said "sir, this is the quiet car." CC had the same reaction as anyone:— Katie Klabusich (@Katie_Speak) October 25, 2015
"You're kidding. It's the quiet car? Alright" & to the phone "I gotta go, I'm in the quiet car. Call you back."— Katie Klabusich (@Katie_Speak) October 25, 2015
Did he appear annoyed? Sure. Apparently having a shit logistics day & someone fucked up. Was he screaming, causing a scene? Hardly.— Katie Klabusich (@Katie_Speak) October 25, 2015