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Chris Christie DID know about Bridgegate closures and lied to the public... I can prove it, claims New Jersey governor's childhood friend
PUBLISHED: 16:07 EST, 31 January 2014 | UPDATED: 17:52 EST, 31 January 2014
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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie knew about the plans to block entrances to the George Washington Bridge, despite his repeated claims to the contrary, a key Port Authority official said today.
Furthermore, David Wildstein - Christie's childhood friend who personally oversaw the traffic disruption in Fort Lee, New Jersey, in September - says he has documents that prove Christie was lying.
Mr Wildstein's bombshell revelation in the 'Bridgegate' scandal - if proven true - could have tremendous implications for Christie and his political future, both in New Jersey and in the wider nation. The recently-reelected Republican is considered a top presidential contender for 2016.
The governor's office has not yet responded to the claims.
Mr Wildstein also alleged that the bridge disruption took place to pressure opponents of a multimillion-dollar development in Fort Lee that has ties to the governor's allies. Initial reports indicated that it was relation for the borough's mayor not supporting Christie's reelection campaign.
In a letter released to multiple news outlets, Wildstein directly contradicted the governor's repeated statements that he had no involvement in or knowledge of the lane colsures that paralyzed Fort Lee for four days.
'Evidence exists... tying Mr Christie to having knowledge of the lane closures, during the period when the lanes were closed, contrary to what the governor stated publicly in a two-hour press conference,' Alan Zegas, Wildstein's lawyer, said in a letter to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
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He also claimed that the governor lied to the public during his marathon January 9 press conference. During that nationally-televised appearance, Christie said he accepted responsibility for the scandal but denied ordering the closures or knowing that they had been orchestrated by his appointees and members of his staff.
'I knew nothing about this,' Christie told the nation. 'And until it started to be reported in the papers about the closure, but even then I was told this was a traffic study.'
He laid all blame for the scandal on his deputy chief of staff, Bridget Kelly, and on Wildstein and others at the Port Authority.
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'Mr Wildstein contests the accuracy of various statements that the governor made about him and he can prove the inaccuracy of some,' the letter says.
Wildstein's attorney did not discuss what the evidence was or reveal any details about it.
Wildstein was one of Christie's appointees to the Port Authority, which controls the George Washington Bridge. He was also high school friend of Christie's - although the governor has claimed that they had minimal interaction with Wildstein since his appointment.
He resigned earlier this month after emails emerged between him and Ms Kelly in which they discussed closing the lanes and toll plazas in Fort Lee. The emails included Ms Kelly telling Wildstein, 'Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.'
Jan 9: Christie insists he didn't know about lane closures
The document also includes allegations that the bridge was closed to gain leverage for development deals.
'There have been reports that certain Commissioners of the Port Authority have been connected... to land deals involving the Port Authority, that Port Authority funds were allocated to projects connected to persons who supported the administration of Governor Chris Christie,' the letter reads.
Additionally: 'That Port Authority funds were held back from those who refused to support the Governor.'
The three-page letter was written by Mr Wildstein's attorney as an attempt to get the Port Authority to pay for his legal bills as several agencies, including the FBI, investigate the scandal.
In addition to Ms Kelley and Mr Wildstein, two other Christie confidantes also were let go. His top deputy at the Port Authority, Bill Baroni, resigned after telling a legislative panel the lane closings were for a traffic pattern study, and two-time campaign manager Bill Stepien was told to step aside after he appeared to gloat over the traffic chaos in private emails released during the investigation.
Christie, who has a reputation for engendering loyalty and insisting on discipline among his subordinates, explained at a December news conference that he learned of his aides' involvement when an original batch of subpoenaed emails was published.
- David Wildstein says he has documents tying Governor Christie to the closures at the Fort Lee approach to the George Washington Bridge
- Wildstein is a former Port Authority official who personally oversaw the traffic disturbance
- Also alleged that the bridge was closed because of development interests tied to the Christie administration
PUBLISHED: 16:07 EST, 31 January 2014 | UPDATED: 17:52 EST, 31 January 2014
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Blame game: David Wildstein, who personally oversaw the George Washington Bridge lane closures, says he has evidence that Chris Christie lied
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie knew about the plans to block entrances to the George Washington Bridge, despite his repeated claims to the contrary, a key Port Authority official said today.
Furthermore, David Wildstein - Christie's childhood friend who personally oversaw the traffic disruption in Fort Lee, New Jersey, in September - says he has documents that prove Christie was lying.
Mr Wildstein's bombshell revelation in the 'Bridgegate' scandal - if proven true - could have tremendous implications for Christie and his political future, both in New Jersey and in the wider nation. The recently-reelected Republican is considered a top presidential contender for 2016.
The governor's office has not yet responded to the claims.
Mr Wildstein also alleged that the bridge disruption took place to pressure opponents of a multimillion-dollar development in Fort Lee that has ties to the governor's allies. Initial reports indicated that it was relation for the borough's mayor not supporting Christie's reelection campaign.
In a letter released to multiple news outlets, Wildstein directly contradicted the governor's repeated statements that he had no involvement in or knowledge of the lane colsures that paralyzed Fort Lee for four days.
'Evidence exists... tying Mr Christie to having knowledge of the lane closures, during the period when the lanes were closed, contrary to what the governor stated publicly in a two-hour press conference,' Alan Zegas, Wildstein's lawyer, said in a letter to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Scroll down for video
Telling the truth? Christie staked his reputation on a January 9 press conference in which he repeatedly denied knowing about the closures or having any involvement
He also claimed that the governor lied to the public during his marathon January 9 press conference. During that nationally-televised appearance, Christie said he accepted responsibility for the scandal but denied ordering the closures or knowing that they had been orchestrated by his appointees and members of his staff.
'I knew nothing about this,' Christie told the nation. 'And until it started to be reported in the papers about the closure, but even then I was told this was a traffic study.'
He laid all blame for the scandal on his deputy chief of staff, Bridget Kelly, and on Wildstein and others at the Port Authority.
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'Mr Wildstein contests the accuracy of various statements that the governor made about him and he can prove the inaccuracy of some,' the letter says.
Wildstein's attorney did not discuss what the evidence was or reveal any details about it.
Wildstein was one of Christie's appointees to the Port Authority, which controls the George Washington Bridge. He was also high school friend of Christie's - although the governor has claimed that they had minimal interaction with Wildstein since his appointment.
He resigned earlier this month after emails emerged between him and Ms Kelly in which they discussed closing the lanes and toll plazas in Fort Lee. The emails included Ms Kelly telling Wildstein, 'Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.'
Jan 9: Christie insists he didn't know about lane closures
All but two lanes of the Fort Lee approach to the George Washington Bridge were closed for four days in September - paralyzing the borough and frustrating tens of thousands of commuters
The document also includes allegations that the bridge was closed to gain leverage for development deals.
'There have been reports that certain Commissioners of the Port Authority have been connected... to land deals involving the Port Authority, that Port Authority funds were allocated to projects connected to persons who supported the administration of Governor Chris Christie,' the letter reads.
Additionally: 'That Port Authority funds were held back from those who refused to support the Governor.'
The three-page letter was written by Mr Wildstein's attorney as an attempt to get the Port Authority to pay for his legal bills as several agencies, including the FBI, investigate the scandal.
In addition to Ms Kelley and Mr Wildstein, two other Christie confidantes also were let go. His top deputy at the Port Authority, Bill Baroni, resigned after telling a legislative panel the lane closings were for a traffic pattern study, and two-time campaign manager Bill Stepien was told to step aside after he appeared to gloat over the traffic chaos in private emails released during the investigation.
Christie, who has a reputation for engendering loyalty and insisting on discipline among his subordinates, explained at a December news conference that he learned of his aides' involvement when an original batch of subpoenaed emails was published.
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