Chris Christie sworn in for 2nd term as New Jersey governor

VIDEO: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie remains surrounded by scandal as he’s sworn in for second term

TRENTON, N.J. – Tuesday’s celebrations to mark the start of Gov. Chris Christie‘s second term could be tempered by multiple investigations into traffic tie-ups that appear to have been ordered by his staff for political retribution and an allegation that his administration tied Superstorm Sandy aid to approval for a real estate project.

Christie became a fixture in speculation about who would seek the 2016 Republican presidential nomination with his leadership after Superstorm Sandy slammed into his state in October 2012.

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Chrisite’s inauguration day schedule starts with a service at Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church before a swearing in and address in Trenton. An evening party on Ellis Island, a symbolic spot synonymous with the promise of the United States, had to be cancelled because a severe winter storm threatens to dump up to a foot (25 centimetres) of snow on the region Tuesday.

VIDEO: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie gives annual speech amid scandal

Christie won re-election in November by a 22-point margin over state Sen. Barbara Buono, a Democrat. He demonstrated broad, bipartisan appeal, drawing support from Democratic constituencies that often shun Republicans: blacks, Hispanics and women.

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The Republican governor built a national following as a blunt-talking and often funny politician who strived to show that he could find common ground with Democrats on some key issues, including overhauling the state’s public-worker pension program and making it easier to fire teachers who are found to be underperforming.

He worked with President Barack Obama and took on Republican members of Congress who were reluctant to approve aid for storm victims, receiving high marks from his constituents and plentiful national attention.

READ MORE: NJ Gov. Chris Christie apologizes for scandal in State of State speech

But his reputation has been battered somewhat since revelations this month that a staffer ordered two of three approach lanes to the George Washington Bridge from the town of Fort Lee shut down for four days in September apparently as political retribution against the mayor there, perhaps for not endorsing Christie for re-election.

Christie has apologized, denied any involvement with or knowledge of the plot and fired a deputy chief of staff at the centre of the controversy. But questions have continued.

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Christie’s administration also faces an allegation from the Democratic mayor of Hoboken that it tied the delivery of Superstorm Sandy aid to the low-lying city of 50,000 across the Hudson River from Manhattan to support for a prime real estate project. Officials in the Christie administration have denied those charges.

Also on Monday, nine-time Olympic gold medallist Carl Lewis said Christie dropped a plan to appoint him the state’s first physical fitness ambassador when he launched a political campaign against a Christie friend. Christie’s administration hasn’t returned an email seeking comment.