TRENTON, N.J. -- Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump is helping dig Chris Christie and the New Jersey Republican Party out of big debt they incurred from the George Washington Bridge closure scandal and the governor's failed presidential campaign.

Trump will attend a $25,000-per-person fundraiser today for the state GOP to help it pay off about $500,000 incurred in legal fees responding to legislative subpoenas in the bridge scandal. Trump and Christie will headline the event as well as a separate, $200 per-person fundraiser to pay down Christie's roughly $250,000 presidential campaign debt.

"Gov. Christie has been very supportive of Mr. Trump," said Trump spokesman Hope Hicks. "Mr. Trump looks forward to raising money for the Governor and spending time with the great people of New Jersey on Thursday night."

The hand-in-hand fundraising help is a sharp turnabout from five months ago, when Trump said Christie "totally knew" that some of his allies had shut down access lanes to bridge to retaliate against a Democratic mayor who wouldn't support Christie's re-election, as prosecutors allege.

Two former Christie allies have pleaded innocent to federal wire fraud and civil-rights charges. Christie has not been charged and denies involvement.

Christie has since folded his presidential campaign and endorsed Trump, and the businessman has tapped the governor to head his White House transition team.

"We certainly take it as a demonstration of their long and deep friendship," said Bill Palatucci, a long-time Christie adviser and New Jersey Republican National committeeman. "Whether it's a thank-you or not, we appreciate it nonetheless."

The events, both held at the National Guard Armory in Lawrenceville, are expected to draw about 1,000 people for the presidential debt fundraiser and 15 to 20 for the state party fundraiser, Palatucci said. The fundraisers, he said, are expected to retire the debt almost entirely, if not completely.

The bridge scandal made headlines again this week after a federal appeals court delayed the release of a list of unindicted co-conspirators in the scheme sought by various media organizations.

New Jersey taxpayers have spent more than $10 million for legal services for the Christie administration. Christie's 2013 gubernatorial campaign also owes nearly $1 million for legal services. None of the money raised today will go toward those costs, Palatucci said.

In recent comments Christie has highlighted his friendship with Trump, which goes back more than a decade, and insisted support doesn't stem from political expediency.

"This is not like some political marriage," Christie said. "This is a guy I've known and been friends with for 14 years."

The state party is praising Trump ahead of his first visit to the state since he has become the presumptive nominee.

"We are proud that Mr. Trump has shown his commitment to growing our party here in New Jersey," said Pete Sheridan, executive director of the Republican State Committee.

A Section on 05/19/2016