CNN has reached out to Christie’s office, as well as the offices of Baroni and Kelly’s attorneys for comment.
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“When David Wildstein spoke, Gov. Christie’s voice came out, and everybody knew it”, one of Baroni’s lawyers, Michael Baldassare, told jurors.
A New Jersey state legislature investigation lurched through that fall with inconclusive answers but mounting pressure on Baroni and Wildstein, who were forced to resign in November 2013. In January 2014, emails and text messages were publicly disclosed that showed the officials’ involvement, including an August 13, 2013, email in which Kelly told Wildstein: “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee”.
“This case in not only about facts – it’s about a presidential campaign”, said Kelly’s defense attorney Michael Critchley.
Inside the courtroom there were no Christie lawyers or associates taking umbrage at defense lawyers’ portrait of Christie as a Bully-in-Chief, who personally hired David Wildstein, a “crazy” and power hungry fabulist who served as Christie’s ruthless henchman at the Port Authority, the bi-state agency that operates the world’s busiest bridge.
But experts said the scandal undoubtedly harmed Christie’s political ambitions, including his failed bid for the Republican nomination for president this year.
Even if Christie doesn’t take the witness stand, the governor will likely remain front and center in the federal trial. He has claimed in the past that evidence exists showing Christie was aware of the scheme. The attorneys said that Wildstein had proudly called himself a “bully” and said that Christie had likened him to Winston Wolf, the character played by Harvey Keitel in Pulp Fiction.
Chris Christie (R) knew about the 2013 plan to close lanes leading to the George Washington Bridge, prosecutors said Monday, according to The New York Times.
The lane closures created paralyzing traffic jams in Fort Lee over a five-day stretch.
If a jury finds Baroni and Kelly guilty, they each could face prison time for their involvement in Bridgegate.
David Wildstein, a Christie appointee at the Port Authority who reported to Baroni, pleaded guilty and is expected to testify at trial against Kelly and his former boss.
For years now, Christie maintained that he was unaware of what his deputies were plotting to do back in 2013.
In court, Baroni’s attorney slammed Wildstein, calling him a “liar”, a “vicious guy”, a “bully”, a “horrible person”, and “vindictive”, and adding that the government “made a deal with the devil” in the plea deal for Wildstein – who will be testifying against Baroni and Kelly.
The change created significant problems on the New Jersey side of the bridge and was ordered without notifying police, emergency officials or officials on the NY side of the Port Authority’s leadership.
Jurors began hearing opening statements Monday in Newark in the case against Bill Baroni and Bridget Kelly.
Bill Baroni, left, deputy executive director of the Port Authority of NY and New Jersey, shows an image of plans for the World Trade Center to Belgium’s Crown Prince Philippe, center, and Crown Princess Mathilde during the couple’s visit to the site, on June 23, 2011, in NY.
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The pair are charged with misusing federally funded property, wire fraud and depriving residents of their civil rights to travel freely in the town.
