Being a shameless toady to a fraud and embarrassment has its privileges, I suppose.

For those who thought New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was being held hostage by Donald Trump, you can relax. He was actually getting something out of it, all along.

If the gilded toad is able to secure the White House as his gold-plated lily pad, Christie will act as the head of his transition team, he announced today.

“’Governor Christie is an extremely knowledgeable and loyal person with the tools and resources to put together an unparalleled Transition Team, one that will be prepared to take over the White House when we win in November. I am grateful to Governor Christie for his contributions to this movement,’ Trump said in a statement.”

Christie showed his fealty with a well-worded declaration of appreciation:

“I am honored by the confidence being placed in me by Mr. Trump and look forward to putting together a first rate team to assemble an administration to help best serve the President-elect and the nation.”

Good toady.

Trump has already put nepotism in play and hired his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to put together the transition team, while working directly with friend-of-Putin, Paul Manafort, and elfin thug, Corey Lewandowski.

Governor Christie, who isn’t exactly loved in his home state, went on to address the fears for his well-being:

“’No, I wasn’t being held hostage. No, I wasn’t sitting up there thinking, ‘Oh my God, what have I done?’” Christie told reporters on March 3. “I was sitting up there — standing up there — supporting the person who I believe is the best person to beat Hillary Clinton, of the remaining Republican candidates, and it’s why I endorsed him. I understand everybody had a lot of fun with it. It doesn’t matter to me.’”

In its release, Trump’s team directed all press inquiries to Christie’s communications director rather than the presumptive nominee’s campaign itself.”

I’m still trying to read between the lines and decode that secret call for help.