Witness: Christie Used Bridge Authority to Gain Endorsements

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Witness: Christie Used Bridge Authority to Gain Endorsements

By DAVID PORTER, ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWARK, N.J. — Sep 23, 2016, 8:38 PM ET

Republican Gov. Chris Christie's office used the bistate agency that runs the New York area's bridges, tunnels, ports and airports as a clearinghouse for political favors aimed at gaining endorsements from local Democratic politicians, a witness testified Friday in the fraud trial of two former Christie allies.

Among those directly involved in the effort or aware of it were Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni, who are accused of creating traffic gridlock at the George Washington Bridge in 2013 to punish one of those mayors for not endorsing Christie, according to David Wildstein's testimony.

Wildstein said Christie and his former campaign manager, Bill Stepien, were among those who discussed the strategy at a meeting about Christie's 2013 re-election.

Stepien and another former Christie aide who testified Friday now work for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's campaign.

Wildstein has pleaded guilty in the scheme to tie up traffic at the bridge, which spans the Hudson River and connects Fort Lee with New York City.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/governments-star-witness-set-stand-bridge-trial-42305862

[Laxman]

1. That's Not The Half....

of what came out today. Wildstein will be on the stand probably two more days. He's got a lot more to tell-like the evidence he has from his Port Authority hard drive or what he's going to say to show that Christie knew about the lane closures while they were happening-but did nothing to stop them .

[riversedge]

2. Christie needs to get crisped really bad! He is such a bully.

[bettyellen]

3. Bombshell next week?

[rusty quoin]

4. I remember when the story first came out,

I wondered what drives a man at the top of his game to do something so petty and so irresponsible as shutting down the lanes.

I still do not have a clear reason for it. I know Christie is a huge bully, but are there no advisors...maybe his wife...to say don't do it.

That said, I know he is a complete asshole and I would love this to take him down.

[lindysalsagal]

5. Lotta good those endorsements are doing him now.

[tblue37]

6. Did you see this?

Wildstein, at the beginning of his testimony, said he and Baroni often talked of the "one-constituent rule," referring to Christie as the only constituent they needed to serve.

GGGRRRR!