Governor Christie Blasts Bridgegate Investigative Committee
By Cleve Bryan
TRENTON, NJ (CBS) -- Governor Chris Christie vented his frustrations Thursday at the legislative committee investigating the George Washington Bridge traffic scandal.
"Fact is they've been digging around for 8 months and have found absolutely nothing that contradicts what I said in January," said Christie at a news conference to announce agency appointees including Jamie Fox (D) as new Commissioner of Transportation.
Christie was particularly upset at interview memos leaked to the media while he was traveling in Mexico.
He blamed the leadership of the committee for allowing the leaks and called the committee a partisan pursuit.
"These are people who are addicted to MSNBC and the front page of your papers," Christie said about the committee's leadership.
Co-chair of the investigative committee NJ Senator Loretta Weinberg (D) was in the front row of the news conference and deflected the governor's criticisms.
"It's not the first time I've heard it so it doesn't surprise me," said Weinberg who plans to meet with fellow committee members in the next few days to discuss their next moves.
"We have a charge from both houses of the legislature that we plan to carry forth," said Weinberg.
Work is underway to reform the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey whose former employee David Wildstein is accused of orchestrating the lane closures last year that snarled traffic in Fort Lee, NJ.
Weinberg and Senator Robert Gordon (D) introduced Senate Bill 2181 to committee Thursday which is aimed at creating transparency and accountability at the PANYNJ.
Among the bill's provisions is protection for whistleblowers who might report corrupt or unethical behavior.
"We believe that had these protections been in place at the Port Authority, many of the recent problem never would have occurred," said Gordon to the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee.
The bill was passed along to the full Senate which is expected to take it up on Monday.
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