Judge Decides To Proceed On Bridgegate Complaint Against Christie
HACKENSACK, NJ (CBS) -- A North Jersey municipal judge has, again, decided there is enough evidence for a private criminal complaint to proceed against Governor Chris Christie in the wake of the Bridgegate affair.
Bergen County Municipal Judge Roy McGeady made a probable cause finding against Christie in October, and now has reached the same conclusion a second time. Based on testimony from the federal Bridgegate trial, he's determined there's enough evidence to suggest the Governor could have done something about blocked lanes at the George Washington Bridge three years ago, but didn't.
Two former aides to the Governor were convicted in federal court and a third entered a guilty plea. All three await sentencing and appeals have been filed.
McGeady has ordered Christie to appear in court to answer the complaint, filed by retired fireman Bill Brennan, on March 10th.
The Governor, through a spokesman, issued the following response:
"This judge has once again violated the Governor's constitutional rights and intentionally ignored the earlier ruling by Assignment Judge Mizdol. The judge is violating the law, pure and simple. This concocted claim was investigated for three months by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, which summarily dismissed it, after concluding that the very same evidence relied upon again by this judge was utter nonsense. That is exactly what it is. The law requires this judge to have done the same. This is a complete non-event."