The nearly seven-year story of Bridgegate came to an end Wednesday and this being New Jersey, there was a surprise twist.
In a letter to the court, the U.S. Attorney’s office asked to dismiss the indictments against former Christie Administration insiders Bridget Anne Kelly and William Baroni — whose convictions were overturned last month by the U.S. Supreme Court — and moved to toss out the guilty plea against David Wildstein, who testified for the government in the bizarre scheme of political retaliation.“Given the decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, Mr. Wildstein, throug… Read the rest of this entry »
Former NJ Governor said George Washington Bridge lane closure prosecution “changed the course of history”
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie slammed his successor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Obama Justice Department today in response to the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously overturning the convictions of Bridget Ann Kelly and Bill Baroni for their roles in closing down entrance lanes to the George Washington Bridge in September of 2013.
Christie, who was considered the front runner for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination before the scandal broke open in early 2014, said the prosecution of Kelly and Baroni “changed the course of history.”
The Supreme Court may have thrown out the Bridgegate case, but the man who orchestrated the scheme to close the George Washington Bridge access lanes says what he did was wrong.
David Wildstein, a former Republican operative and Port Authority official, was portrayed in the Bridgegate trial as the architect of the plan to shut down the local toll lanes to the George Washington Bridge to retaliate against the Fort Lee mayor for failing to endorse Gov. Chris Christie for reelection.
Wildstein said the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision Wednesday to throw out the convictions of Bill Baroni and Bridget… Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: May 7th, 2020 | Author:Art Gallagher | Filed under:Bridgegate | Tags:Bridgegate, David Wildstein, New Jersey | Comments Off on ‘I fully accept responsibility for my role,’ in Bridgegate scheme, says Wildstein, after Supreme Court throws out case
In a sharp rebuke to prosecutors, the U.S. Supreme Court today threw out the convictions of Bridget Anne Kelly and Bill Baroni — the two former Christie administration officials charged in the bizarre scheme of political retribution that became known as Bridgegate.
“Because the scheme here did not aim to obtain money or property, Baroni and Kelly could not have violated the federal-program fraud or wire fraud laws,” the court ruled.
The unanimous 15-page ruling underscored the skepticism of a court that has repeatedly questioned the government’s “boundless interpretation” of the federal bribery … Read the rest of this entry »
Today marks the six year anniversary of the fire than engulfed the iconic boardwalk of Seaside Park and Seaside Heights.
The blaze that destroyed 1000 feet of boardwalk and businesses that had been repaired/replaced following Superstorm Sandy which occurred only 11 months prior, was determined to have been caused by electrical wiring that had been corroded during the historic storm but not replaced during the rebuild. Read the rest of this entry »
Bill Barnoni, 47, a former NJ State Senator and the former Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of NY/NJ was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison today for his role in the September, 2013 George Washington Bridge lane closure known as Bridgegate, Assistant US Attorney Attorney for the United States Mark Coyne announced.
U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton imposed the sentence in Newark federal court.
LET ME FINISH: Trump, the Kushners, Bannon, New Jersey, and the power of in-your-face politics, former Governor Chris Christie’s memoir and plea for a political future is not likely to change any minds about him. If you’re one of the 15% of New Jersey residents who admire Christie today as much as you did during the early aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, you will love the book and your admiration for Christie will grow.
If you believe that Christie knew about and was involved in the George Washington Bridge scandal known as Bridgegate and that he closed New Jersey’s beaches for all but his family on the July 4th weekend in 2017, his book will tell you why you’re wrong. Christie is the victim of the two events that define his legacy so far; Bridgegate and Beachgate.
David Wildstein, the central figure in the Bridgegate scandal, was sentenced to three years probation today, according to a statement by Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick.
David Samson, the former Chairman of the Port Authority of NY/NJ and a former New Jersey Attorney General was sentenced to one year of home confinement, four years probation and fined $100,000 for using his official authority to pressure the parent company of United Airlines Inc to institute a non-stop flight from Newark to South Carolina so that he could visit his second home on weekends.
Samson pleaded guilty to one count of bribery last year. The sentence was imposed today by U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares in Newark federal court.
Bridget Ann Kelly, texting, with Governor Chris Christie and Michelle Brown at Seaside Park fire, September 12, 2013, photo by Phil Stilton
NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in August 2013 approved of a traffic study to be conducted by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey at the George Washington Bridge, according to testimony in federal court here Friday from Bridget Anne Kelly, a former aide to the governor who is charged in… Read the rest of this entry »
