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| Chris Christie's former aide testifies she told him about 'traffic study' on bridge Chris Christie's former aide testifies she told him about 'traffic study' on bridge | |
| (2 months later) | |
| New Jersey’s governor Chris Christie’s former deputy chief of staff testified on Friday in her criminal trial that she told him about a traffic study on the George Washington Bridge before sending an email that it was “time for some traffic problems”, which prosecutors say started a political revenge plot. | New Jersey’s governor Chris Christie’s former deputy chief of staff testified on Friday in her criminal trial that she told him about a traffic study on the George Washington Bridge before sending an email that it was “time for some traffic problems”, which prosecutors say started a political revenge plot. |
| Bridget Kelly is accused of plotting with two other former Christie allies to close lanes on the bridge that connects New Jersey and New York as revenge against a Democratic mayor who would not endorse the Republican governor’s re-election effort in 2013. | Bridget Kelly is accused of plotting with two other former Christie allies to close lanes on the bridge that connects New Jersey and New York as revenge against a Democratic mayor who would not endorse the Republican governor’s re-election effort in 2013. |
| Her comments at trial that Christie – currently a top aide for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump – signed off on the traffic study in August 2013, a month before the closures began, are the latest testimony indicating Christie knew more about the closures than he let on in the months afterward. Christie has denied knowing about any plot, and has not been charged. | Her comments at trial that Christie – currently a top aide for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump – signed off on the traffic study in August 2013, a month before the closures began, are the latest testimony indicating Christie knew more about the closures than he let on in the months afterward. Christie has denied knowing about any plot, and has not been charged. |
| Kelly maintained on Friday that she believed the lane closings to be part of a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey traffic study. She is on trial along with former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive Bill Baroni. | Kelly maintained on Friday that she believed the lane closings to be part of a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey traffic study. She is on trial along with former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive Bill Baroni. |
| David Wildstein, a former Port Authority staffer, previously pleaded guilty in the case and is the prosecution’s key witness. The self-described mastermind of the plot, Wildstein has said the traffic study was just a cover story. | David Wildstein, a former Port Authority staffer, previously pleaded guilty in the case and is the prosecution’s key witness. The self-described mastermind of the plot, Wildstein has said the traffic study was just a cover story. |
| Kelly testified that Wildstein told her the traffic study would cause “tremendous traffic problems” in Fort Lee, but would ultimately help traffic flow. She said Wildstein suggested holding an event at the bridge with banners saying “Thanks, Governor Christie”. | Kelly testified that Wildstein told her the traffic study would cause “tremendous traffic problems” in Fort Lee, but would ultimately help traffic flow. She said Wildstein suggested holding an event at the bridge with banners saying “Thanks, Governor Christie”. |
| She also testified that Christie said the study was fine and she should run it by his then chief of staff, Kevin O’Dowd. He asked how their relationship was with Fort Lee’s mayor, Mark Sokolich, she said. | She also testified that Christie said the study was fine and she should run it by his then chief of staff, Kevin O’Dowd. He asked how their relationship was with Fort Lee’s mayor, Mark Sokolich, she said. |
| “I explained all of this to the governor and he said, ‘I’m OK with it. Make sure you run it by O’Dowd,”’ Kelly said. | “I explained all of this to the governor and he said, ‘I’m OK with it. Make sure you run it by O’Dowd,”’ Kelly said. |
| The release of the “traffic problems” email was what blew the scandal into full public view and led to Christie firing Kelly and his campaign manager, Bill Stepien. | The release of the “traffic problems” email was what blew the scandal into full public view and led to Christie firing Kelly and his campaign manager, Bill Stepien. |
| “I’m pretty sure if I said it’s time for a traffic study in Fort Lee, we wouldn’t all know each other,” Kelly said. | “I’m pretty sure if I said it’s time for a traffic study in Fort Lee, we wouldn’t all know each other,” Kelly said. |
| Wildstein testified earlier in the trial that he did not consider Kelly’s email a joke. | Wildstein testified earlier in the trial that he did not consider Kelly’s email a joke. |
| Sometimes in tears, Kelly also testified that Christie once threw a water bottle at her, angry that she suggested he introduce local political leaders at an unrelated event. She responded “yes” when her attorney asked her if she was afraid of Christie. | Sometimes in tears, Kelly also testified that Christie once threw a water bottle at her, angry that she suggested he introduce local political leaders at an unrelated event. She responded “yes” when her attorney asked her if she was afraid of Christie. |
| Also Friday, Mike DuHaime, one of Christie’s top political advisers, testified he told Christie ahead of a news conference two months after the lane closures that Kelly and Stepien knew about them. | Also Friday, Mike DuHaime, one of Christie’s top political advisers, testified he told Christie ahead of a news conference two months after the lane closures that Kelly and Stepien knew about them. |
| At the 13 December 2013 news conference, Christie told reporters that no one in his administration other than Wildstein knew about the closings. Asked whether he could say with certainty that no one else knew about the plot, Christie said that he had no reason to believe that. | At the 13 December 2013 news conference, Christie told reporters that no one in his administration other than Wildstein knew about the closings. Asked whether he could say with certainty that no one else knew about the plot, Christie said that he had no reason to believe that. |
| He said he asked everyone on his senior staff to tell him if they had any knowledge “and they’ve all assured me that they don’t”. He said that Stepien “assured me the same thing”. | He said he asked everyone on his senior staff to tell him if they had any knowledge “and they’ve all assured me that they don’t”. He said that Stepien “assured me the same thing”. |
| Wildstein previously testified that Baroni told Christie about the traffic in Fort Lee on the third day of the gridlock, during a September 11 memorial event in 2013 in New York. | Wildstein previously testified that Baroni told Christie about the traffic in Fort Lee on the third day of the gridlock, during a September 11 memorial event in 2013 in New York. |
| Christie said that never happened. And Baroni has testified that it was Wildstein, at the 9/11 memorial, who told Christie about the bridge traffic and that no mention of Sokolich or political retaliation was made. | Christie said that never happened. And Baroni has testified that it was Wildstein, at the 9/11 memorial, who told Christie about the bridge traffic and that no mention of Sokolich or political retaliation was made. |
| Christie’s spokesman did not immediately respond on Friday to a request for comment. | Christie’s spokesman did not immediately respond on Friday to a request for comment. |
| Stepien’s attorney has previously said his client did not engage in wrongdoing of any kind. | Stepien’s attorney has previously said his client did not engage in wrongdoing of any kind. |
| While Christie cut Stepien loose in January 2014, he later took a position running a thinktank for New Jersey’s lieutenant governor, Kim Guadagno, and is now part of the Republican presidential campaign of Trump, for whom Christie is a top adviser and transition team chairman. | While Christie cut Stepien loose in January 2014, he later took a position running a thinktank for New Jersey’s lieutenant governor, Kim Guadagno, and is now part of the Republican presidential campaign of Trump, for whom Christie is a top adviser and transition team chairman. |