Amid the lane closure bridge controversy, Gov. Christies Administration has hired an outside law firm to help and cooperate with a U.S. Attorney inquiry, into the claim that top staffers arranged a massive traffic jam in Fort Lee, New Jersey as political payback.
According to CNN, a special state Assembly committee plans on issuing subpoenas for documents and former aides. Last week documents were released suggesting members of Gov. Christie’s administration ordered the lane closures, that lead to four days of traffic in Fort Lee, which serves as an access into the George Washington Bridge on the New Jersey side.
The aides to be subpoenaed are, former Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Kelly, the governor’s chief spokesman, Mike Drewniak and Bill Stepien, Gov. Christie political confidante. The committee that’s led by Democrats will have Attorney Reid Schar, who was involved in the federal prosecution of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
“Governor Christie made clear last week that he will conduct an internal review to uncover the facts surrounding the lane closures in Fort Lee,” a statement from the governor’s office read. “His administration is fully cooperating with the U. S. Attorney inquiry and other appropriate inquiries and requests for information.”
The Gov. fired Bridget Kelly because her name appeared in an e-mail with David Wildstein, an appointee of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who resigned after the bridge fiasco unfolded last fall. One of the e-mails sent by Kelly read “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.” If that isn’t incriminating, i don’t know what is. I don’t know what Gov. Christie is going to do to get out of the bind he is in.
On Tuesday Gov. Christie gave a state of the State address, he briefly mentioned the scandal by saying “mistakes were clearly made.” Whether or not he will take responsibility for the situation remains to be seen. Until justice uncovers more truths, authorities continue to investigate the situation carefully. For jobs in NJ, click here.
Image Credit: CNN