Breaking: Key Bridgegate Figure to Accept Guilty Plea
Source: Observer
The Observer has exclusively learned that David Samson, a mentor to Chris Christie who was appointed by the governor Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, will plead guilty to a single felony charge as early as the end of this week. According to a former prosecutor with intimate knowledge of the players in whats become known as the Bridgegate affair, Samson will be indicted and plead guilty to a one-count felony. He will not be cooperating with the government. I dont know the actual statute [under which Samson will be charged], but its related to the Chairmans flight.
The source is referring to allegations made regarding Mr. Samsons personal travel. For several years, United Airlinesthe largest airline at Newark Liberty Airport and thus a key relationship for the Port Authority, which operates the airportoperated a non-stop route between Newark and Columbia Metropolitan Airport in South Carolina, which is about 50 miles from Mr. Samsons vacation home. Within days after Mr. Samson resignation from the Port Authority in late March 2014, United canceled the route, which was alleged to be often empty and money-losing. This gave rise to the impression that the company was running the entire route simply to curry favor with the influential chairman, who was presumably only to happy to accept the Chairmans Flight what amounted to a private plane subsidized by a company with which his agency did much business. In January of 2015, federal prosecutors subpoenaed records regarding this arrangement, and in September of last year, United CEO Jeff Smisek suddenly resigned over the probe.
According to the Observers source, the indictment will come as early as the end of this week and definitely by next week. He mentioned the deliberate pace of the United States Attorney for New Jersey, Paul Fishman, who happens to be Mr. Christies successor. One thing Ive learned about Fishman is that whenever you think somethings happening tomorrow, even when youre the one involved in it, it ends up not happening. It happens, but hes the slowest guy on the planet.
In April of 2015, Mr. Samson retired from the politically connected firm that bore his name, Wolff & Samson, citing declining health. The firm, which is located on a lush campus in West Orange and hosted several meeting for Chris Christies political team during his first run for governor in 2009, rechristened itself Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi P.C. and is now headed by former state Attorney General Jeff Chiesa, who was appointed by Christie to fill the US Senate seat of Frank Lautenberg following his death.
Read more: http://observer.com/2016/07/breaking-key-bridgegate-figure-to-accept-guilty-plea/
Well this is certainly interesting. I can't believe the part where he's not going to cooperate with the prosecution. It seems the "Chairman's Flight" was indeed a big deal. Now if somebody would only ask why all of those United executives who lived in Illinois seemed so compelled to donate to Christie's campaign fund.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)"a former prosecutor with intimate knowledge of the players in whats become known as the Bridgegate affair"
I was kind of surprised that Chris Hayes didn't connect that dot in his program.
The source is Christie.
rug
(82,333 posts)jberryhill
(62,444 posts)How many former prosecutors are running around with "intimate knowledge" of the players in the Bridgegate affair.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)jberryhill
(62,444 posts)...because it is not "a former prosecutor with knowledge of the investigation" but one who is familiar with the players.
jpak
(41,759 posts)Krooked Kris....get him ouutta here...
yup
George II
(67,782 posts)... The Record (northjersey.com) has been on top of this story since it began a couple of years ago, no mention of it on their site yet.
Laxman
(2,419 posts)reporting this news. The Daily News and the New York Post both have stories this morning and MSNBC did a segment last night: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/key-figure-in-bridgegate-scandal-to-plead-guilty-719220291657
on edit: of course they are all citing the Observer as their source for the story. Kornacki's take on MSNBC last night was that this is somehow designed to benefit Christie & Trump. That's an interesting take as well. Samson is certainly the biggest threat to Christie. I can't believe he would fall on his sword to protect Christie. It raises many more questions that it answers-if true.
George II
(67,782 posts)....Shawn Boburg and other reporters at The Record.
I'm not saying this isn't going to happen but until we see something from the people who really are close to this story (i.e., The Record reporters) I'm skeptical.
Laxman
(2,419 posts)I'm not impressed with Kornacki's reporting on this entire universe of issues. I just watched Spotlight over the weekend. The dogged investigative reporting that went into that story was impressive. There's very little digging going on right now about Bridgegate and the related issues. And I find the whole spin of making this a positive for Christie a bit odd. Just as an aside-suppose you're the prosecutor here and you're going to bring charges related to the "Chairman's Flight". Putting the whole bribery aspect of the transaction aside, wouldn't the campaign donations made to Christie for Governor by Illinois residents raise an eyebrow or two? This would all get swept under the rug by a plea to a single charge? That doesn't quite pass the smell test.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)mountain grammy
(26,648 posts)fucking corrupt bastards, living large on public money. sickening
HuskyOffset
(890 posts)So sick of this corruption. Get money out of politics, wolf-pac.com
forest444
(5,902 posts)I can't make out if it's 'The Fall Guy' or 'Jake and the Fat Man.'