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Chris Christie sued over New Jersey bridge scandal Chris Christie sued over New Jersey bridge scandal
(about 2 hours later)
Six New Jersey residents are suing Governor Chris Christie over claims his office created gridlock on to a major bridge as part of a political vendetta.Six New Jersey residents are suing Governor Chris Christie over claims his office created gridlock on to a major bridge as part of a political vendetta.
The traffic mayhem was allegedly instigated in revenge against a mayor who declined to endorse Mr Christie.The traffic mayhem was allegedly instigated in revenge against a mayor who declined to endorse Mr Christie.
Lawyer Rosemarie Arnold, who filed the lawsuit, said her clients were late for work and one had a panic attack.Lawyer Rosemarie Arnold, who filed the lawsuit, said her clients were late for work and one had a panic attack.
State legislators plan to release on Friday nearly 1,000 pages relating to their probe of the incident. State legislators have released nearly 1,000 pages relating to their probe of the incident.
Mr Christie, seen as a potential future Republican presidential candidate, has said he is "embarrassed and humiliated" by the incident and has denied any involvement, blaming "deceitful" staff. The documents are expected to shed further light on the closure of lanes to the George Washington Bridge, which connects New Jersey to Manhattan.
He announced he had fired a top aide on Thursday after documents apparently showing her engineering the traffic problems became public a day earlier. Mr Christie, seen as a potential future Republican presidential candidate, said on Thursday he felt "embarrassed and humiliated" by the incident and denied any involvement, blaming "deceitful" staff.
He fired his top aide, Bridget Anne Kelly, after emails and text, which apparently showed her engineering the traffic problems, were made public a day earlier.
'Fictional' traffic study'Fictional' traffic study
On 9 September, two traffic lanes in the borough of Fort Lee on to the George Washington Bridge, which connects New Jersey to Manhattan, were shut for several days, causing gridlock.
Emails and texts made public on Wednesday appear to link Bridget Anne Kelly, a top Christie aide, to the move.
"Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," Ms Kelly wrote on 13 August to David Wildstein, a political appointee to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which controls the bridge."Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," Ms Kelly wrote on 13 August to David Wildstein, a political appointee to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which controls the bridge.
"Got it," Mr Wildstein, who has since resigned, replied."Got it," Mr Wildstein, who has since resigned, replied.
Mr Wildstein refused to testify on Thursday in a hearing investigating the matter. He refused to testify on Thursday in a hearing investigating the matter, repeatedly invoking his fifth amendment right not to incriminate himself.
The lawsuit filed, which seeks class-action status, calls for unspecified damages for those who were late to work because of the lane closures and lost pay. The lawsuit filed on Thursday, which seeks class-action status, calls for unspecified damages for those who were late to work and lost pay because of the lane closures.
The plaintiffs accuse Mr Christie, Ms Kelly, Mr Wildstein and the Port Authority of conspiring and committing "acts of official misconduct", then covering it up with a "fictional traffic study".The plaintiffs accuse Mr Christie, Ms Kelly, Mr Wildstein and the Port Authority of conspiring and committing "acts of official misconduct", then covering it up with a "fictional traffic study".
It claims the residents "suffered economic damages" as a result of the delays.It claims the residents "suffered economic damages" as a result of the delays.
In a lengthy press conference on Thursday, Mr Christie said he was "heartbroken that someone who I permitted to be in that circle of trust for the last five years betrayed my trust". In Thursday's two-hour news conference, Mr Christie said he was "heartbroken that someone who I permitted to be in that circle of trust for the last five years betrayed my trust".
He also said he had withdrawn support for his former campaign manager, Bill Stepien, to become New Jersey Republican party chairman, because of the "callous indifference" he had shown in emails about the traffic jams.He also said he had withdrawn support for his former campaign manager, Bill Stepien, to become New Jersey Republican party chairman, because of the "callous indifference" he had shown in emails about the traffic jams.
The Democratic-controlled state legislature has been investigating the closures for several months but the allegations have gained national prominence after the communications from Mr Christie's office were made public.The Democratic-controlled state legislature has been investigating the closures for several months but the allegations have gained national prominence after the communications from Mr Christie's office were made public.