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| NJ Governor Chris Christie hit with criminal summons over bridge closure | NJ Governor Chris Christie hit with criminal summons over bridge closure |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A judge has signed a criminal summons accusing New Jersey Governor Chris Christie of misconduct for his alleged role in the 2013 closure of a bridge. | A judge has signed a criminal summons accusing New Jersey Governor Chris Christie of misconduct for his alleged role in the 2013 closure of a bridge. |
| The case will move to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office to determine whether an indictment will follow. | |
| The news comes as two former Christie aides are on trial for allegedly closing part of the bridge after a mayor refused to endorse the governor. | The news comes as two former Christie aides are on trial for allegedly closing part of the bridge after a mayor refused to endorse the governor. |
| The Republican governor has repeatedly denied knowing about the lane closures. | The Republican governor has repeatedly denied knowing about the lane closures. |
| The fall and fall of Chris Christie | The fall and fall of Chris Christie |
| Profile: Governor Chris Christie | Profile: Governor Chris Christie |
| Bridget Kelly, Mr Christie's former deputy chief of staff, and Bill Baroni, a former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive, are facing conspiracy and fraud charges for allegedly closing part of the George Washington Bridge, a major bridge connecting New Jersey to New York City. | |
| Federal prosecutors say the move was political retribution to punish Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich for not endorsing the governor in his re-election bid. | |
| Revelations about "Bridgegate" have dogged Mr Christie, who endorsed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in a surprising move after dropping out of the primary race earlier this year. | |
| Mr Christie has become a prominent supporter of his former rival, Mr Trump, and manages the New York businessman's transition team should he win the White House. | |
| David Wildstein, a former Port Authority official who pleaded guilty last year, testified late last month that Mr Christie was told about the bridge closure at a 9/11 memorial service two days after the lanes were blocked and laughed about the revenge plot. | |
| Activist Bill Brennan filed the official misconduct complaint against Mr Christie in September after Mr Wildstein's testimony. | Activist Bill Brennan filed the official misconduct complaint against Mr Christie in September after Mr Wildstein's testimony. |
| The prosecutor's office will decide whether there is enough evidence to indict Mr Christie for official misconduct, which could lead to a sentence of five to 10 years in prison. | The prosecutor's office will decide whether there is enough evidence to indict Mr Christie for official misconduct, which could lead to a sentence of five to 10 years in prison. |
| Mr Christie appointed the prosecutor who will review the case. | Mr Christie appointed the prosecutor who will review the case. |
| The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office had "no comment at this time", spokeswoman Maureen Parenta said in an email to Reuters news agency. | |
| Christie spokesman Brian Murray said the ruling would be appealed and reiterated the governor had no knowledge of the plot. | |
| "This is a dishonourable complaint filed by a known serial complainant and political activist with a history of abusing the judicial system," he said. | |
| "This matter has already been thoroughly investigated by three separate independent investigations." |