Ex-Gov. Christie Aides Fight Subpoenas Following 'Bridgegate' Scandal
By Cleve Bryan
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- Bridget Kelly walked coolly through a swarm of media into the Mercer County Courthouse Tuesday morning.
The former Christie staffer is accused of ordering traffic tie ups leading to the George Washington Bridge, allegedly for political payback.
She and Christie adviser Bill Stepien are fighting subpoenas to produce documents related to the incident.
Attorney for the legislative committee Reid Schar says, "This is a legislative investigation trying to determine what happened so it can be fixed, so these issues don't happen again to the people of New Jersey."
The committee's legal team is asking the court to issue an order demanding cooperation with their subpoenas.
But attorneys for Kelly and Stepien argue that by turning over documents their clients would be forced to surrender their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.
Bridget Kelly's attorney Michael Critchley says, "They are basically requiring us incriminate ourselves by asking us to turn over these type of documents and give the testimonial communication that go with the act of reduction and that's unconstitutional judge."
Judge Mary Jacobson listened to nearly three hours of arguments, but gave no timeline when she'll reach a decision if Kelly and Stepien must cooperate with their subpoenas.
Once outside, Bridget Kelly offered no comments and allowed her lawyer to explain why, unlike Bill Stepien, she came to court.
"She wanted to be here to show that she felt it was important for hearing and seeing and that she's not someone who's running away living a life of a hermit."
Even without a decision on Kelly and Stepien, leaders of the Bridgegate investigative committee say they continue to move forward reviewing new documents, trying to piece together how deep the scandal goes.
