Bridgegate Convictions and Chris Christie

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2016
Posted on Sat Nov 05, 2016 at 08:40:00 AM EST
Tags: Chris Christie (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

Chris Christie's former ally and aide were convicted in Bridgegate.

William E. Baroni Jr., the former deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Bridget Kelly, Christie’s former deputy chief of staff for legislative and intergovernmental affairs, were both convicted of all the counts against them, the U.S. attorney’s office in New Jersey said.

During the trial, the defense for Kelly and Baroni tried to pitch them as Christie’s scapegoats. Prosecutors described them as the governor’s “loyal lieutenants” intent on helping their boss run for president.

Bridget Kelly testified Christie knew about it.
[More...]

Kelly said she told Christie of the lane closures before they happened, though she claimed she thought they were part of a legitimate traffic study that needed her boss’s approval.

So did Christie former ally Billy Wildstein:

Wildstein, who pleaded guilty, testified as a witness for prosecutors in the case, claiming that he told Christie what was happening during a 9/11 memorial service, and that Christie laughed.

“We were all very relaxed,” Wildstein testified, according to an account of the trial by the New York Times. The Times said a prosecutor asked Wildstein if he was bragging, and Wildstein responded: “Very much so.”

Christie, a former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, says:

No believable evidence was presented to contradict that fact. Anything said to the contrary over the past six weeks in court is simply untrue.”

So, will Trump dump him now?

In an interview Friday with Fox News’s Bret Baier, Trump was asked whether he still has confidence in Christie. His answer was lukewarm. “Well, I have great confidence in him,” Trump said. “I have not been following the trial. I don’t know really.” He added: “It’ll be interesting to see what happens. But I do like him very much, and I do have confidence in him, and I hope it all works out well for him.”

In the past Trump had been critical of Christie over the matter, saying last December, during the Republican primaries in which the two were rivals: “He totally knew about it.”

Christie says BridgeGate will be "a footnote" on his legacy.

Dream On. Chris Christie is toast. He pinned his tail on the wrong donkey if he thought Trump would save him. Trump has no such loyalty to anyone -- I doubt he is even familiar with the concept.

< Obama Commutes Another 92 Sentences | Trump Won't Win, But You Still Need to Vote >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Bridgegate Convictions and Chris Christie | 3 comments (3 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

One word: (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Nov 05, 2016 at 02:42:03 AM EST

Good. Speaking as a former senior government staffer, Bridget Anne Kelley and Michael Baroni got what they deserved. They and David Wildstein are an embarrassment to the profession. And I might add that Kelly played the part of the political patsy to absolute perfection.

: my consideration is (none / 0) (#3)
by linea on Sat Nov 05, 2016 at 05:35:11 PM EST

that this is neither justice nor fairness. bridget kelly is the victim of her Employer. why are we imprisonimg frightened workers and letting the Executives who launch these criminal activities go free? it's no different than Wells Fargo.

Christie (none / 0) (#2)
by KeysDan on Sat Nov 05, 2016 at 10:08:31 AM EST

is still head of Trump's transition team. Based, apparently, on his keen eye for personnel matters. While undermining Trump's claim to getting terrific people, that transition team will not be needed.