No Special Prosecutor In Private Criminal Complaint Against Christie
HACKENSACK, N.J.(CBS) - A New Jersey superior court judge has rejected a request from a private citizen to appoint a special prosecutor to look into Governor Chris Christie's possible involvement in the "Bridgegate" affair.
Bergen County Judge Bonnie Mizdol has ruled that activist Bill Brennan lacks standing to bypass the process of having his complaint against the Governor handled by the county prosecutor.
Brennan argued that the prosecutor and state Attorney General have conflicts of interest in pursuing the matter. Both have recused themselves and appointed deputies to address the complaint.
A Bergen County municipal judge allowed the complaint to go to the county prosecutor in October, finding there was enough evidence produced at the federal misconduct trial of two former Christie aides to merit an investigation.
Onetime aides Bill Baroni and Bridget Kelly were convicted on all counts. A third aide, David Wildstein, admitted his guilt and turned government witness in the case. All three await sentencing and appeals from Baroni and Kelly are expected.
Christie was never charged in "Bridgegate" and has steadfastly denied any knowledge of the political plan to close lanes on the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee three years ago until they surfaced in the media.
Mizdol, in her 11 page order, notes there's heightened concern given a sitting governor is involved but she is "duty bound to uphold our constitution, statutes, case law and court rules; none of which convey standing upon Brennan."
Christie's attorney, Craig Carpenito, issued a statement to KYW Newsradio expressing relief the court agreed that Brennan "should have no further role in this matter."
Brennan has not returned KYW's call seeking comment.