Report: No Evidence Christie Involved In Bridge Plot
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey lawmakers probing politically motivated traffic jams near the George Washington Bridge last year have found no evidence that Gov. Chris Christie was involved in the scheme. They did not rule out the possibility, however, as they have been unable to interview several witnesses.
Investigators found no conclusive evidence that Christie was aware of the lane closures, but they say that two former Christie aides acted with "perceived impunity" and with little regard for public safety when they ordered the lanes closed, according to a 136-page interim report by a joint legislative panel.
A report commissioned by Christie previously cleared him of any wrongdoing, and a lawyer for the governor said in a statement Thursday night that the report corroborates that investigation.
"The Committee has finally acknowledged what we reported nine months ago — namely, that there is not a shred of evidence Governor Christie knew anything about the GWB lane realignment beforehand or that any current member of his staff was involved in that decision," Christie attorney Randy Mastro said in a statement.
But the report notes that important questions remain unanswered and several critical witnesses have not testified. The report will be supplemented if more information is obtained. An investigation by the U.S. attorney's office continues.
"At present, there is no conclusive evidence as to whether Governor Chris Christie was or was not aware of the lane closures either in advance of their implementation or contemporaneously as they were occurring," according to the report. "Nor is there conclusive evidence as to whether Governor Christie did or did not have involvement in implementing or directing the lane closures."
The report says former Christie aides Bridget Kelly and David Wildstein acted with "perceived impunity" and with little regard for public safety. It says the Christie administration responded "very slowly and passively" to the lane closures.
Documents released earlier this year showed that Wildstein, then an official at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the bridge, and Kelly, then an aide to Christie, orchestrated the shutdown, apparently as retribution toward Fort Lee's Democratic mayor. In one email, Kelly told Wildstein, "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee."
Wildstein later contended that Christie knew about the lane closures as they happened. Christie, a possible 2016 Republican presidential contender, denies that he had any role in or knowledge of a plot to shut down the lanes. The report says the committee can't "evaluate the reliability of this evidence," after Wildstein refused to answer any questions, citing his right not to incriminate himself.
Among the questions that remain from the committee's hearings: the context of text messages that aide Regina Egea sent Christie last December during hearings about the traffic tie-up.
Lawmakers had requested such communications, but none of the texts was provided. Egea later told the committee that she texted the governor messages that were "not at all substantive" and that the witnesses before the panel were "professional." She said she later deleted the messages.
The committee did not get the messages — an indication, the report says, that Christie also deleted them.
The committee says phone records show Christie texted Egea twice before she replied as one Port Authority official testified and that they continued to exchange text messages as a Port Authority police union leader spoke to lawmakers.
The report has not been formally accepted by the legislative committee; a meeting is scheduled Monday for that purpose.
Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick dismissed the report, saying it was a "partisan summary."
"This is a waste of taxpayer dollars. The information released confirms that Gov. Christie had no role in the lane closures at the George Washington Bridge," he said.
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