BridgeGate Hits Next Level As Feds Launch Grand Jury Investigation

[Gothmog]

Source: Talking Points Memo

Federal prosecutors in New Jersey have convened a grand jury to investigate the George Washington Bridge lane closures, ABC News reported on Friday.

Twenty-three grand jurors on Friday heard testimony from Michael Drewniak, press secretary to Gov. Chris Christie (R). Drewniak's attorney, Anthony Iacullo, told ABC News his client was not a target of the investigation.

"I'm not going to get into the specifics as to what would be discussed in the grand jury," Iacullo said. "I would say though that Mike is a witness and we have been assured that he continues to be a witness throughout these proceedings and Mike has continued to cooperate as requested by the government into this inquiry."

In January, the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey confirmed that it was looking into the lane closures, which caused a multi-day traffic jam in Fort Lee, N.J. in September. But as ABC News reports, the existence of the grand jury confirms that the matter has evolved into a criminal investigation. Last week, a legal team representing Christie's office released a report claiming the governor had no role in the closures, and pinning blame for the plot on two former Christie allies: former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive David Wildstein and former Christie deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly.

ABC News on Friday also reported that a team of state prosecutors in New Jersey are monitoring the federal case, and "are prepared to continue the investigation on the state level if the feds turn it over to them."

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/bridge-scandal-grand-jury

[Stuart G]

1. Get them...prosecute them, let a jury decide, and put them where they belong..nt

[Laxman]

2. Well Then...

somebody is a target of this investigation. Mr. Drewniak has been very quiet for the past month or so. There was no taking the 5th if Drewniak isn't a target. Someone is being pressed now. Dominoes will start to fall. Thanks for posting this.

[Stuart G]

3. I sure hope it is Kelly they are after. Here is why.

She can go after Christie. She may be the only one, but she knows for sure.
And I hope they get him, that bully asshole..

[Laxman]

4. Oh, They'll Start With Her...

she brings scandal into the inner circle. But I think they've got Guadagno on extortion charges with Hoboken and who knows where it goes from there...although I've got an idea!

[davidpdx]

6. My assumption would be that Kelly is high up on their list

She has the most to lose, knows the most, and was involved. There is only so long she can hold out.

[LTG]

7. May still be entitled to take the 5th.

Not being the "target" of this investigation does not take away the witness' right against self incrimination. Only a blanket grant of immunity from prosecution, in this case from both federal and state prosecutors, would relieve him of the ability to exercise that right.

I didn't see anything in the original post indicating that he had been given those grants of immunity.

[Kingofalldems]

5. No way. Christie declared himself not guilty.

It was all over the news.

[sofa king]

8. Kick it up a notch!

[olddad56]

9. Christie might find the food in prison so repulsive that he could shed a few pounds.

could be a win-win for him and the state of NJ if they locked him up for a while.