N.J. Lawmaker: It Could Be Grounds For Impeachment If Christie Knew About GWB Closures
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The New Jersey lawmaker heading up the state investigation into the George Washington Bridge lane closures has raised the possibility of impeachment if the probe uncovers ties to Gov. Chris Christie.
As WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported Sunday, despite all the e-mails, apologies and firings, state Assembly Transportation Committee Chairman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) said it is still early in the investigation.
N.J. Lawmaker: It Could Be Grounds For Impeachment If Christie Knew About GWB Closures
He appeared Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation."
"We're not only going to need testimony," he said. "We're going to need documents, and so we have a lot more work ahead of us."
N.J. Lawmaker: It Could Be Grounds For Impeachment If Christie Knew About GWB Closures
Wisniewski said the committee is planning to issue more subpoenas – possibly this week – which could include Christie spokesman Michael Druniac and the now-fired Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Kelly.
"Bridget Kelly is among a list of people that we would like to have come in and testify, and that we plan on issuing subpoenas to," he said.
As 1010 WINS' Roger Stern reported, Wisniewski said he believes Christie knew more about the plot than he is letting on.
"His chief counsel knew, his deputy chief of staff knew, his incoming chief of staff knew," Wisniewski said. "It just trains credibility that they didn't look at those documents and say, 'We ought to let him know about it,'" Wisniewski said.
Wisniewski added that Governor Christie was with Kelly in Seaside Heights at the time of purported traffic study.
"It's hard to believe that she didn't have some conversation with the Governor because if you look at photos that have been circulated widely on the news she was with the Governor that day down in Seaside as a result of that massive fire," Wisniewski said, "It really strains credibility when his entire senior staff in the midst of a reelection campaign were made aware of a massive traffic problem in Fort Lee, were made aware of efforts to conceal that traffic problem that he had no knowledge, that they told him nothing, it just strains believability."
One of the key questions that has come from the bridge mess is whether it was part of a pattern of political vengeance on the part of Governor Christie and his top associates, CBS 2's Steve Langford reported.
"The question that's always raised about this administration is that the governor is a bully and the people on his staff take their cues from the governor and they act in a thuggish way," Wisniewski said.
But speaking on "Meet the Press," former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said it is possible that Christie's aides kept him in the dark.
"He says he didn't know. I think it's pretty darn credible. He wouldn't make this blanket denial unless it's not true," Giuliani said.
At the plaza diner in Fort Lee support for the governor was split.
"I think it's actually kind of immature and silly what he's done," Laurie Medvinsky said.
Others disagreed.
"I think he has a lot of integrity and I think he's being very honest and I think he's innocent," Reena Epstein said.
A special session of the New Jersey Assembly is expected to pursue the probe into the bridge scandal on Thursday.
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