Prosecutor: Gov. Chris Christie Knew About the Bridge Closings as They Were Happening and Knew Why

Christie Was Top Contender to Be Trump’s Running Mate

New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie not only knew about the closings on the George Washington Bridge that backed up traffic for days in September of 2013, but he knew why, according to statements made by prosecutors Monday morning. 

On trial for their part in the Ft. Lee closings, Christie supporters David Wildstein and Bill Baroni, both high-level officials at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, “bragged” to the New Jersey governor about their alleged actions, one prosecutor, Vikas Khanna, told the jury, as The New York Times reports. Khanna says the two men told Christie they did it to “mess” with the mayor of Ft. Lee, who had refused to endorse Christie for re-election.

Top Christie aide Bridget Anne Kelly now infamously had sent an email in August of 2013 that read: “time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.”

Baroni ignored all messages and attempts by the Ft. Lee mayor to have the lanes re-opened. At the time, the first week of back-to-school, a simple few-minute drive turned into hours of sitting in traffic.

“Defense lawyers have also said that Mr. Christie knew,” the Times adds. “But the statement on Monday was striking in that it was prosecutors confirming that assertion.”

Gov. Christie is a top Trump surrogate whom many believed was going to be the GOP nominee’s vice presidential running mate. Some still believe he may be given a high-level position, such as attorney general, in a Trump administration.

 

Image by Bob Jagendorf via Flickr and a CC license