Cuomo Denies Claims He Knew More About Bridgegate Scandal Than He Said
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo reacted Tuesday to reports that he knew more about the Bridgegate scandal than he let on.
As WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported, Cuomo was asked about the scandal three months after it hit the news. As quoted by WNYC radio, he replied, "I don't know anything more than basically what has been in the newspaper, because it was basically a New Jersey issue."
But just-released records obtained by WNYC using a Freedom of Information Act request apparently indicated that top measures of Cuomo's team knew instantly about the closures to lanes on the George Washington Bridge in 2013, and that Cuomo got on the phone as soon as the scandal heated up.
Cuomo was asked directly on Tuesday, "Did you make a call about Bridgegate to (New Jersey) Governor (Chris) Christie, any other New Jersey officials or your own staff?"
"No, not until well after and it was a big deal in the newspaper and I was coming out to a friendly gathering like this," Cuomo responded.
Cuomo glanced at a semicircle of microphones, cameras and reporters – many of whom had been shouting Bridgegate questions at him.
Two former Christie allies were indicted last year for allegedly orchestrating traffic jams near the George Washington Bridge in 2013 as political payback against Democratic Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, who didn't support the Republican governor's re-election.
Former Christie deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni, a former executive (and Christie appointee) at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the bridge's operator, are scheduled for trial in September.
Christie hasn't been charged and has disavowed any knowledge of the alleged scheme.