Judge Denies Request For Special Prosecutor In Christie Bridgegate Complaint
HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A New Jersey judge has denied a request for a special prosecutor to be appointed in a criminal misconduct complaint against Republican Gov. Chris Christie in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal.
State Superior Court Judge Bonnie Mizdol on Friday dismissed the motion by former Teaneck firefighter and Wayne resident William Brennan who brought the complaint in October, ruling that he lacked standing.
The complaint alleges Christie failed to order subordinates to reopen bridge access lanes in September 2013. Brennan argued the governor should be held "to the same standards as everyone else.''
Three of Christie's former allies were convicted or pleaded guilty in federal court in what prosecutors say was a scheme to punish Democratic Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich for not endorsing Christie's re-election bid.
Christie wasn't charged in the federal case. He denies any wrongdoing.
A grand jury would have to hear evidence and hand up an indictment in the state misconduct case before Christie would stand trial.
Brennan had argued that a special prosecutor is needed to remove the appearance of a conflict of interest. Attorney General Chris Porrino and Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal, both appointed by Christie, have recused themselves from the case, but Brennan argued that their subordinates also should be recused.
"It's very clear that the Office of Attorney General and the county prosecutor of Bergen County are hopelessly compromised and conflicted," Brennan told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond. "No decision that they make is going to be fair and impartial."
"I don't have any faith in the county prosecutor or the Office of Attorney General to prosecute him fairly, nor does anybody in New Jersey," Brennan added.
Attorney Craig Carpenito, representing Christie, said he trusted from the beginning that Mizdol would reject Brennan's arguments.
"His 15 minutes of attention are up and he will have to find a new way to try to increase his number of Twitter followers,'' Carpenito said.
Carpenito and the attorney general's office argued that Brennan, as a citizen making a complaint, doesn't have the standing to call for a special prosecutor and that there is no legislative mechanism to appoint one.
Carpenito said this week Brennan's claims that assistant county prosecutors couldn't be fair "insults the process.''
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