TRENTON — The Democratic leaders of the joint legislative committee investigating the lane closings at the George Washington Bridge “ran up exorbitant public costs” and “proved to be some of the most partisan elected officials in modern times,” according to a report released today by the Republican members of the panel. The 119-page “Minority Statement,” issued… Read the rest of this entry »
Brian Thompson, the WNBC 4-NY reporter who broke the story of potential indictments in the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandals coming next month, told MSNBC’s Steve Kornacki this morning that the likely federal charges will be related to a coordinated effort to cover up.
“This is what ties it all together as a single unified prosecution, ” Thompson said, “that is they are all involved in this, they all have a finger print or more, somewhere in this, which is, what our sources are saying, all wraps up into a conspiracy to cover up.”
Thompson said that the alleged cover up started “that week of the shut downs” not a month or two months later. Thompson reiterated that the cover up began on the same week that the lane closures occurred.
Thompson said that at least two of the principals have made a deal, are singing, or are trying to make a deal, with the U.S. Attorney.
Posted: December 6th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2016 Presidential Politics, Bridgegate, Chris Christie, Port Authority | Tags: 2016 Presidential politics, Brian Thompson, Bridgegate, Bridgegate Investigation, Chris Christie, Port Authority of NY/NJ, Steve Kornacki, Up with Steve Kornacki | 9 Comments »
One day after the State Legislative Committee’s report stating that there was no evidence that Governor Chris Christie had prior knowledge of the September 2013 George Washington Bridge lane closures, WNBC-4 New York’s Brian Thompson is reporting that multiple sources say that U. S. Attorney Paul Fishman’s investigation into the scandal could be wrapped up by the end of next month resulting in “at least a half dozen potential indictments.”
Thompson’s report said that those facing potential indictment are former Christie staffers and current and former Port Authority officials.
Posted: December 5th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2016 Presidential Politics, Bridgegate, Chris Christie, Port Authority | Tags: 2016 Presidential politics, Brian Thompson, Bridgegate, Chris Christie, George Washington Bridge, Port Authority, Port Authority of NY/NJ, WNBC-4 New York | 4 Comments »
Jersey City Police Chief Robert Cowan has responded to his announced demotion by Mayor Steve Fulop by alleging that the mayor order traffic jams at Port Jersey and the Holland Tunnel. That Cowan objected and interfered is the reason he is being demoted, he says, according to reports in the Jersey Journal.
Fulop announced plans to sue the Port Authority of NY/NJ for $400 million. Cowan’s attorney said Fulop’s plan was “designed solely to create havoc for the Port Authority.”
Assemblywoman Amy Handlin
Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Middletown) wants the joint legislative committee that is investigating the September 2013 George Washington Bridge lane closures to investigate the allegations against Fulop as well.
In a letter dated today to Senator Loretta Weinberg and Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Co-Chairs of the New Jersey Select Committee on Investigation,of which Handlin is a member, the assemblywoman asked that the committee immediately issue subpoenas to Fulop and Cowan
As you know, the mission of the New Jersey Legislative Select Committee on Investigation is to “investigate all aspects of the finances, operations, and management of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and any other matter raising concerns about abuse of government power or an attempt to conceal an abuse of government power including, but not limited to, the reassignment of access lanes in Fort Lee, New Jersey to the George Washington Bridge.”
Because the allegations against Mayor Fulop raise significant concerns about the repeated abuse of government power directly related to the Port Authority, I respectfully ask the committee to investigate this matter including the immediate issuance of subpoenas to Mayor Fulop and Chief Cowan.
Handlin’s letter can be found here.
Fulop is widely considered to be a contender for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2017, or sooner if Governor Chris Christie does not complete his term.
Posted: July 14th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2017 NJ Gubernatorial Politics, Amy Handlin, Chris Christie, Jersey City, New Jersey, News, NJ State Legislature, Port Authority, Steve Fulop | Tags: Holland Tunnel, Jersey City, Mayor Steve Fulop, Police Chief Robert Cowan, Port Authority of NY/NJ, Port Jersey, SCI, Select Committee on Investigation | 2 Comments »
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