Port Authority Won't Pay For Ex-Executive David Wildstein's Legal Bills
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive responsible for restricting access to the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, N.J. for days, causing major gridlock will have to pay for his own legal defense.
Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman said the agency informed David Wildstein on Friday that covering his legal expenses was "not warranted'' under the authority's bylaws.
The bylaws call for coverage of legal bills for current and former employees regarding job-related activities, but not if there is misconduct or fraud.
The Port Authority said its law department is still reviewing an indemnification request from another executive, former Deputy Director Bill Baroni.
Both resigned amid an investigation into whether the lane closures were politically motivated.
Wildstein was Gov. Chris Christie's No. 2 appointee at the Port Authority.
He was recently found in contempt by a legislative committee after he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to answer questions regarding the lane closure scandal.
Christie has been under scrutiny since email exchanges made public earlier this month linked one of his top aides to the George Washington Bridge lane closure.
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