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Chris Christie to speak on bridge-gridlock scandal Chris Christie to speak on bridge-gridlock scandal
(35 minutes later)
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is set to address potentially damaging claims his aide orchestrated traffic mayhem to pursue a political vendetta.New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is set to address potentially damaging claims his aide orchestrated traffic mayhem to pursue a political vendetta.
Mr Christie, often cast as a potential Republican candidate for president, plans to speak to reporters at 11:00 local time (16:00 GMT).Mr Christie, often cast as a potential Republican candidate for president, plans to speak to reporters at 11:00 local time (16:00 GMT).
The gridlock was allegedly engineered to punish a Democratic mayor who did not endorse the governor's re-election.The gridlock was allegedly engineered to punish a Democratic mayor who did not endorse the governor's re-election.
Mr Christie is blaming the scandal on his staff and denying all knowledge.Mr Christie is blaming the scandal on his staff and denying all knowledge.
He has not yet disciplined any of his employees, including the aide implicated in the now public emails and texts released on Wednesday. He has not yet disciplined any of his employees, including the aide implicated in the emails and texts made public on Wednesday.
The communications do not suggest that Mr Christie himself had anything to do with the lane closures, but they seem to contradict his assertions that none of his staff was involved. The communications do not suggest that Mr Christie himself directly had anything to do with the lane closures, but they seem to contradict his previous assertions that none of his staff was involved.
'Appalling''Appalling'
They appear to link a Christie aide, Bridget Anne Kelly, to the closure of traffic lanes in the New Jersey town of Fort Lee feeding to the George Washington Bridge, one of the world's busiest, in September. They appear to link a Christie aide, Bridget Anne Kelly, to the closure of traffic lanes in the New Jersey borough of Fort Lee feeding to the George Washington Bridge, one of the world's busiest, in September.
"Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," she wrote on 13 August to David Wildstein, New Jersey's political appointee to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which controls the span. "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," she wrote on 13 August to David Wildstein, a New Jersey political appointee to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which controls the span.
"Got it," Mr Wildstein, a childhood friend of Mr Christie, replied."Got it," Mr Wildstein, a childhood friend of Mr Christie, replied.
On 9 September, two of three traffic lanes to the bridge - a major crossing to New York City carrying some 300,000 vehicles on a typical day - were shut for several days.
Mr Christie and Port Authority officials later said the decision to close the lanes was part of a traffic study.Mr Christie and Port Authority officials later said the decision to close the lanes was part of a traffic study.
Fort Lee's mayor, Mark Sokolich, declined to join a number of other Democratic mayors in endorsing Mr Christie in last autumn's gubernatorial election, which the Republican won handily.Fort Lee's mayor, Mark Sokolich, declined to join a number of other Democratic mayors in endorsing Mr Christie in last autumn's gubernatorial election, which the Republican won handily.
On Wednesday evening, Mr Sokolich, called the decision to close the lanes "appalling", saying the ensuing gridlock put people in danger by holding up emergency vehicles. On Wednesday evening, Mr Sokolich said the alleged skullduggery was "appalling", adding that the ensuing gridlock had put people in danger by holding up emergency vehicles.
Mr Christie postponed a morning event after the emails were released on Wednesday, later issuing a public statement saying he would not tolerate such behaviour by his staff.Mr Christie postponed a morning event after the emails were released on Wednesday, later issuing a public statement saying he would not tolerate such behaviour by his staff.
"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," he said."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," he said.
"This behaviour is not representative of me or my administration in any way, and people will be held responsible for their actions," Mr Christie concluded."This behaviour is not representative of me or my administration in any way, and people will be held responsible for their actions," Mr Christie concluded.
Mr Wildstein, who has since resigned, is due to testify under oath on Thursday before a state legislature committee investigating the claim. Mr Wildstein, who has since resigned, is due to testify under oath on Thursday before a state legislature committee investigating the matter.