Christie Crime Digest-Volume IV

[Eugene]

52. 'Bridgegate' witness says Governor Christie backed lane closures

Source: Reuters

U.S. | Tue Sep 27, 2016 | 12:36pm EDT

'Bridgegate' witness says Governor Christie backed lane closures

By Joseph Ax | NEWARK, N.J

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was aware of and supported a plan to close lanes at the George Washington Bridge in 2013 in an act of political payback, a key prosecution witness testified Tuesday at the criminal trial of two former Christie associates.

David Wildstein, a former executive at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, told jurors in Newark federal court that he and Bill Baroni, another Port Authority executive, discussed the lane closure with Christie before a memorial service marking the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks at the World Trade Center.

The testimony marked the first time federal prosecutors have presented specific evidence to back their contention that the Republican governor knew about the scandal that New York's tabloids christened "Bridgegate" as it unfolded, despite his repeated denials.

Baroni and Christie's former deputy chief of staff, Bridget Kelly, are charged with fraud and other crimes for allegedly orchestrating the September 2013 closure of access lanes at the bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey, to punish the town's Democratic mayor for refusing to endorse Christie's re-election bid.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-new-jersey-bridgegate-idUSKCN11X1YU