Politics / New Jersey NJ Gov Hopeful Runs Afoul of Monty Python Troupe threatens to sue Republican over pirated video footage By Marie Morris, Newser Staff Posted Nov 2, 2009 3:40 PM CST Copied Michael Palin, John Cleese, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, and Eric Idle, aka Monty Python, don't look kindly on Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie's unauthorized use of their work. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer) Republican Chris Christie holds a razor-thin lead over incumbent Jon Corzine in the New Jersey governor's race, and now he has five more potential opponents—the members of Monty Python, who are considering suing the former US Attorney for violating their copyright. An online ad the campaign swiftly yanked from its websites after the Huffington Post blew the whistle uses footage of Michael Palin without credit. "I'm surprised that a former US Attorney isn't aware of his copyright infringement when he uses our material without permission," says Palin. "He's clearly made a terrible mistake. It was the endorsement of Sarah Palin he was after—not that of Michael Palin." (More New Jersey stories.) Report an error