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Chris Christie 'outraged and deeply saddened' over bridge closure scandal Chris Christie battles to limit damage from bridge closure scandal
(about 17 hours later)
Chris Christie, the embattled governor of New Jersey, attempted to disassociate himself from the political scandal ensnaring his office on Wednesday by denying any knowledge that his staff conspired to cause traffic chaos near a town controlled by a political opponent.Chris Christie, the embattled governor of New Jersey, attempted to disassociate himself from the political scandal ensnaring his office on Wednesday by denying any knowledge that his staff conspired to cause traffic chaos near a town controlled by a political opponent.
The governor, a Republican in a state that leans Democratic, said he was “outraged” at revelations in newly disclosed emails that one of his top aides was involved in a decision to block lanes on the approach to the George Washington bridge, the world’s busiest. The act of petty retribution caused traffic misery in a town with a Democratic mayor, who had refused to endorse Christie’s bid for re-election.The governor, a Republican in a state that leans Democratic, said he was “outraged” at revelations in newly disclosed emails that one of his top aides was involved in a decision to block lanes on the approach to the George Washington bridge, the world’s busiest. The act of petty retribution caused traffic misery in a town with a Democratic mayor, who had refused to endorse Christie’s bid for re-election.
In an attempt to limit the political damage, Christie claimed to have been “misled” by a member of his staff and pledged to hold people responsible. But he did not dismiss the aide, nor did he say what measures he would take. Earlier in the day, as news outlets pored over the newly released information, Christie had declined to comment, cancelling his only public appearance of the day.In an attempt to limit the political damage, Christie claimed to have been “misled” by a member of his staff and pledged to hold people responsible. But he did not dismiss the aide, nor did he say what measures he would take. Earlier in the day, as news outlets pored over the newly released information, Christie had declined to comment, cancelling his only public appearance of the day.
The emails (pdf), obtained by local newspaper The Record, reveal direct communication between Bridget Anne Kelly, a senior staff member in the governor’s office, and a top executive appointed by Christie to the Port Authority, which controls the George Washington bridge, linking New Jersey to New York City. “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,” Kelly wrote from her private email address to the executive, David Wildstein, on 13 August last year, three weeks before several access lanes to the bridge were closed.The emails (pdf), obtained by local newspaper The Record, reveal direct communication between Bridget Anne Kelly, a senior staff member in the governor’s office, and a top executive appointed by Christie to the Port Authority, which controls the George Washington bridge, linking New Jersey to New York City. “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,” Kelly wrote from her private email address to the executive, David Wildstein, on 13 August last year, three weeks before several access lanes to the bridge were closed.
“Got it,” replied Wildstein, who was later disclosed to have been the official who ordered the lane closures.“Got it,” replied Wildstein, who was later disclosed to have been the official who ordered the lane closures.
Four days of lane closures caused havoc in Fort Lee, a New Jersey town of 35,000 that sits under the George Washington. Its mayor, Mark Sokolich, had declined to endorse Christie for re-election as governor last November. On CNN, he denounced the revelations as “the lowest level of political venom”.Four days of lane closures caused havoc in Fort Lee, a New Jersey town of 35,000 that sits under the George Washington. Its mayor, Mark Sokolich, had declined to endorse Christie for re-election as governor last November. On CNN, he denounced the revelations as “the lowest level of political venom”.
The email chain includes denigrating references to Sokolich by top Christie aides who call him “Serbia”, though he's Croatian. Bill Stepien, the campaign manager for the governor’s re-election bid, wrote in one email at the height of the bridge dispute: “The mayor is an idiot.”The email chain includes denigrating references to Sokolich by top Christie aides who call him “Serbia”, though he's Croatian. Bill Stepien, the campaign manager for the governor’s re-election bid, wrote in one email at the height of the bridge dispute: “The mayor is an idiot.”
In another incendiary exchange of text messages, Wildstein and an unidentified associate joked about the impact the lane closures had on Fort Lee’s school kids. The disruption trapped school buses in traffic, causing them to arrive late on the first day of the school year, in addition to emergency vehicles being blocked.In another incendiary exchange of text messages, Wildstein and an unidentified associate joked about the impact the lane closures had on Fort Lee’s school kids. The disruption trapped school buses in traffic, causing them to arrive late on the first day of the school year, in addition to emergency vehicles being blocked.
“Is it wrong that I’m smiling,” the associate said, referring to complaints from Sokolich about the impact of the lane closures on school buses. “No,” replied Wildstein.“Is it wrong that I’m smiling,” the associate said, referring to complaints from Sokolich about the impact of the lane closures on school buses. “No,” replied Wildstein.
“I feel badly about the kids. I guess,” said the associate.“I feel badly about the kids. I guess,” said the associate.
“They are the children of Buono voters,” Wildstein said, in an apparent jibe against Democratic families in Fort Lee. Barbara Buono was Christie’s Democratic challenger in the November election, which was held less than two months after that text conversation.“They are the children of Buono voters,” Wildstein said, in an apparent jibe against Democratic families in Fort Lee. Barbara Buono was Christie’s Democratic challenger in the November election, which was held less than two months after that text conversation.
Further trouble was heaped on the beleaguered governor by the emergency medical services covering Fort Lee which said on Wednesday that during the four days of the bridge lane closures paramedics were delayed in reaching people needing critical attention. In one instance, the Record reported, emergency responders were stuck in traffic as they tried to reach an unconscious woman aged 91 and had to meet the ambulance on its way to hospital instead of at the scene. The woman later died of cardiac arrest at the hospital.Further trouble was heaped on the beleaguered governor by the emergency medical services covering Fort Lee which said on Wednesday that during the four days of the bridge lane closures paramedics were delayed in reaching people needing critical attention. In one instance, the Record reported, emergency responders were stuck in traffic as they tried to reach an unconscious woman aged 91 and had to meet the ambulance on its way to hospital instead of at the scene. The woman later died of cardiac arrest at the hospital.
In another, it took the ambulance up to nine minutes to reach a car crash where four passengers were injured. In normal circumstances the response time should have been less than four minutes.In another, it took the ambulance up to nine minutes to reach a car crash where four passengers were injured. In normal circumstances the response time should have been less than four minutes.
The documents, which were first extracted under subpoena by state legislators, takes “Bridgegate”, as the saga has inevitably been dubbed, from the level of a local inconvenience for Christie to a national scandal that calls into doubt his political motivations and judgment. Christie, who has been seen as a frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, has risen to prominence by cultivating a reputation as a straight-talking, no-nonsense politician who fights for every New Jersey voter regardless of their party affiliation.The documents, which were first extracted under subpoena by state legislators, takes “Bridgegate”, as the saga has inevitably been dubbed, from the level of a local inconvenience for Christie to a national scandal that calls into doubt his political motivations and judgment. Christie, who has been seen as a frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, has risen to prominence by cultivating a reputation as a straight-talking, no-nonsense politician who fights for every New Jersey voter regardless of their party affiliation.
The suggestion that his top staff might have been actively involved in a vindictive move against a Democratic small-town mayor that caused grief for thousands of New Jersey residents could be toxic. Christie is trying to position himself ahead of 2016 as a new-look Republican able to reach across the aisle to Democratic and independent voters. Even more problematic could be evidence, if any emerges, that the governor’s office took part in a cover-up of its involvement.The suggestion that his top staff might have been actively involved in a vindictive move against a Democratic small-town mayor that caused grief for thousands of New Jersey residents could be toxic. Christie is trying to position himself ahead of 2016 as a new-look Republican able to reach across the aisle to Democratic and independent voters. Even more problematic could be evidence, if any emerges, that the governor’s office took part in a cover-up of its involvement.
Christie has consistently denied that his staff had anything to do with the lane closures and the ensuing traffic snarl up, and insisted that the events on the bridge were instigated as part of a traffic study of the flow of vehicles over the bridge. He has also claimed the controversy has all been cooked up by Democrats in the state legislature seeking to score political points.Christie has consistently denied that his staff had anything to do with the lane closures and the ensuing traffic snarl up, and insisted that the events on the bridge were instigated as part of a traffic study of the flow of vehicles over the bridge. He has also claimed the controversy has all been cooked up by Democrats in the state legislature seeking to score political points.
In an attempt to contain the fallout, Christie said in his statement released at 5pm on Wednesday:In an attempt to contain the fallout, Christie said in his statement released at 5pm on Wednesday:
What I've seen today for the first time is unacceptable. I am outraged and deeply saddened to learn that not only was I misled by a member of my staff, but this completely inappropriate and unsanctioned conduct was made without my knowledge. One thing is clear: this type of behavior is unacceptable and I will not tolerate it because the people of New Jersey deserve better. This behavior is not representative of me or my administration in any way, and people will be held responsible for their actions.What I've seen today for the first time is unacceptable. I am outraged and deeply saddened to learn that not only was I misled by a member of my staff, but this completely inappropriate and unsanctioned conduct was made without my knowledge. One thing is clear: this type of behavior is unacceptable and I will not tolerate it because the people of New Jersey deserve better. This behavior is not representative of me or my administration in any way, and people will be held responsible for their actions.
So far two heads have already rolled, and Christie’s statement suggests more departures may now ensue. Wildstein resigned on 6 December and was followed soon after by Bill Baroni, Christie’s appointee as deputy director of the Port Authority, who is also copiously referenced in the new email chain.So far two heads have already rolled, and Christie’s statement suggests more departures may now ensue. Wildstein resigned on 6 December and was followed soon after by Bill Baroni, Christie’s appointee as deputy director of the Port Authority, who is also copiously referenced in the new email chain.
It remains to be seen whether Christie’s attempt at self-preservation will work. At the very least, questions will now be asked about how the governor, who projects himself as a forceful leader and an efficient administrator, was ignorant of the actions of several members of his inner circle.It remains to be seen whether Christie’s attempt at self-preservation will work. At the very least, questions will now be asked about how the governor, who projects himself as a forceful leader and an efficient administrator, was ignorant of the actions of several members of his inner circle.
At worst, pressure will now mount on Christie to prove that he had nothing to do with an act of apparent political spite. Kelly, who is one of three deputy chiefs of staff in the governor’s office, remains in post.At worst, pressure will now mount on Christie to prove that he had nothing to do with an act of apparent political spite. Kelly, who is one of three deputy chiefs of staff in the governor’s office, remains in post.
Buono lashed out at Christie on Wednesday hours after the emails and texts surfaced, telling the Daily Beast that the governor “runs a paramilitary operation”. She said that from the start she had been convinced the bridge debacle had been “an act of political retribution”.Buono lashed out at Christie on Wednesday hours after the emails and texts surfaced, telling the Daily Beast that the governor “runs a paramilitary operation”. She said that from the start she had been convinced the bridge debacle had been “an act of political retribution”.
The new emails also show that the Fort Lee mayor’s desperate cries for help during the four days of the lane closures were coldly rebuffed by Christie’s inner circle. On the first day of the closures, 9 September, Sokolich’s office sent an email to Baroni that pleaded for a phone call on grounds of “urgent matter of public safety in Fort Lee”.The new emails also show that the Fort Lee mayor’s desperate cries for help during the four days of the lane closures were coldly rebuffed by Christie’s inner circle. On the first day of the closures, 9 September, Sokolich’s office sent an email to Baroni that pleaded for a phone call on grounds of “urgent matter of public safety in Fort Lee”.
That email was forwarded by Baroni to Wildstein, and in turn to Christie’s top aide, Bridget Kelly. “Did he call him back?” Kelly asks Wildstein.That email was forwarded by Baroni to Wildstein, and in turn to Christie’s top aide, Bridget Kelly. “Did he call him back?” Kelly asks Wildstein.
“Radio silence,” replied Wildstein. “His name comes right after Mayor Fulop”.“Radio silence,” replied Wildstein. “His name comes right after Mayor Fulop”.
Steven Fulop is the Democratic mayor of Jersey City, who has also complained that he was the subject of retaliation by the Christie team after he declined to endorse the governor for re-election.Steven Fulop is the Democratic mayor of Jersey City, who has also complained that he was the subject of retaliation by the Christie team after he declined to endorse the governor for re-election.
The new emails underline the desperate attempts made by mayor Sokolich to lift the lane closures. On the second day of lane closures he wrote to Baroni: “The bigger problem is getting the kids to school. Help please. It’s maddening.”The new emails underline the desperate attempts made by mayor Sokolich to lift the lane closures. On the second day of lane closures he wrote to Baroni: “The bigger problem is getting the kids to school. Help please. It’s maddening.”
A week later, after the lanes had been reopened at the order of New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who shares joint control of the Port Authority with Christie, the Fort Lee mayor sent another email to Baroni. “We should talk. Someone needs to tell me that the recent traffic debacle was not punitive in nature. The last four reporters that contacted me suggest that the people they are speaking with absolutely believe it to be punishment. Try as I may to dispel these rumours I am having a tough time. A private face-to-face would be important to me. Perhaps someone can enlighten me as to the errors of my ways.”A week later, after the lanes had been reopened at the order of New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who shares joint control of the Port Authority with Christie, the Fort Lee mayor sent another email to Baroni. “We should talk. Someone needs to tell me that the recent traffic debacle was not punitive in nature. The last four reporters that contacted me suggest that the people they are speaking with absolutely believe it to be punishment. Try as I may to dispel these rumours I am having a tough time. A private face-to-face would be important to me. Perhaps someone can enlighten me as to the errors of my ways.”
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