Attorneys say David Wildstein is one of the next three witnesses who could testify Friday in the trial of two former allies of Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
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And when Democratic Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich refused to endorse Christie, the Port Authority was used not to reward, but to punish, he claimed. Federal Courthouse for a hearing, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Newark, N.J. Wildstein, pleaded guilty past year to orchestrating traffic jams in 2013 to punish a Democratic mayor who didn’t endorse Gov. Chris Christie. Their lawyers argue that Wildstein was the one behind the closures and seek to show him as a petty tyrant at an agency too dysfunctional to rein him in.
Ahead of Wildstein’s testimony, Matt Mowers took the stand and offered new evidence.
Christie has long denied any knowledge of the lane closures, which went on for four days. The agency’s head testified Thursday that Wildstein was “protected” by Christie when he worked there.
On Wednesday, Foye testified that he ultimately approved a Port Authority statement, from Wildstein and Baroni, that the traffic jams were the result of a traffic study, knowing it was false.
Wildstein said the “goodie bag” scheme allowed Christie’s office to take credit for items given by the Port Authority, a bi-state agency run jointly with NY.
On Friday, Wildstein said he and his then-boss Bill Baroni often talked of the “one-constituent rule”, referring to Christie as the only constituent they needed to serve.
Wildstein alleged in court that both Christie and his former campaign manager Bill Stepien were among those who discussed creating traffic gridlock at the George Washington Bridge in 2013 as revenge on Sokolich.
‘The governor’s office was always to be the deliverer of good news’.
The Latest on the fifth day of the George Washington Bridge lane-closing trial (all times local): 2:40 p.m.
The favors doled out to towns and local officials included grants, emergency response equipment, private tours of the World Trade Center redevelopment site and pieces of steel salvaged from the destroyed twin towers, Wildstein said.
Wildstein pleaded guilty previous year to orchestrating traffic jams in 2013 to punish a Democratic mayor who didn’t endorse Christie.
Christie didn’t comment on the allegation this week, but his office pointed to a statement he gave in 2014, denying he knew about the plot while it was ongoing.
A national field coordinator for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has described how in 2011 staffers in Governor Christie’s office drew up a “Dem elected target hit list” of potential endorsements for the Governor’s re-election campaign.
Wildstein’s testimony continues on Monday.
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Traffic moves over the Hudson River and across the George Washington Bridge between New York City, and Fort Lee, New Jersey, on December 17, 2013.
