Christie now says, he was misled by head governor's office staff about alleged involvement in the deliberate closing of the George Washington Bridge scandal.
By H. Nelson Goodson
January 8, 2014
Trenton, New Jersey - On Wednesday, Governor Chris Christie (R) released a statement that his deputy chief of staff had misled him in the September 9th George Washington Bridge (GWB) lanes closure scandal. Two of the three lanes were unexpectedly shut down that caused traffic to backup for three hours during the first day of school.
In a statement released by Christie on Wednesday, he said, "What I've seen today for the first time is unacceptable. I am outraged and deeply saddened to learn that not only was I misled by a member of my staff, but this completely inappropriate and unsanctioned conduct was made without my knowledge. One thing is clear: this type of behavior is unacceptable and I will not tolerate it because the people of New Jersey deserve better. This behavior is not representative of me or my Administration in any way, and people will be held responsible for their actions."
Newly released e-mails have surface discussing the closure of the bridge weeks before it actually happened. An e-mail dated September suggested it was time "for some traffic problems in Fort Lee."
The personal e-mails were between Brigette Anne Kelly, the chief of staff of Christie's office and Port Authority appointee David Wildstein and close friend of Governor Christie. Wildstein resigned in December over the GWB scandal. Also another Christie appointee, Bill Baroni, the deputy executive director of the Port Authority resigned in December.
On Thursday, Wildstein is expected to testify before the Assembly Transportation Committee about the GWB scandal.
The e-maile were obtained the the Asbury Park Press and information was reported in The (Bergen) Record.
Governor Christie had insisted that the three hour long lanes closure were of a result of a traffic study and tha t his staff were not involved. At least 300,000 vehicles cross the GWB on a daily basis.
The GWB lane closures were initiated as a retribution against Fort Lee Mayor Mike Sokolich (D) for not endorsing Christie's bid for re-election for Governor in 2013, according to critics.
New Jersey State legislators are looking into whether Governor Christie lied and knew of the planned lane closures at the GWB or he actually didn't know. Indicating that he doesn't know what is happening at his own office and would not be fit to run for president as a GOP candidate in 2016.
Christie has said, that he would not launch an investigation into the recent scandal in his own office.
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