…abuse of power and cover up extends beyond “Bridgegate”. Gov. Christie in response to complaint regarding cover up by N.J. Attorney General’s Office relative to Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. A.G. Paula Dow failed to respond to Gov. Christie’s directive. Read more HERE.
“Chris Christie’s role in GWB bridge scandal questioned in wake of newly revealed e-mails. The e-mails sent shock waves through New Jersey’s political establishment and raised questions about how high up in the administration the bridge lane shutdown operation may have gone. Christie, in his statement, said he had no knowledge of what had transpired.”
“The e-mails suggest that Christie operatives jammed traffic in Fort Lee (Bergen County) to retaliate against Mark Sokolich, the city’s mayor, who did not endorse Christie’s 2013 reelection.”
“What I’ve seen today for the first time is unacceptable,” he said. “I am outraged and deeply saddened to learn that not only was I misled by a member of my staff, but this completely inappropriate and unsanctioned conduct was made without my knowledge. One thing is clear: this type of behavior is unacceptable and I will not tolerate it because the people of New Jersey deserve better.”
“The governor said the behavior “is not representative of me or my administration in any way and people will be held responsible for their actions.” Democrats in New Jersey on Wednesday were calling for a criminal investigation into the whole affair.”
“Gov. Chris Christie apologized Thursday for a scandal that threatens his political future, announcing that he had fired a senior aide and banished his top campaign adviser for their roles in days of traffic jams orchestrated to punish a small-city Democratic mayor.”
“Christie at once accepted responsibility as the state’s chief executive but also insisted he had no involvement in shutting down a pair of access lanes to the heavily trafficked George Washington Bridge over four days in early September. The Republican governor said he was “blindsided” by this week’s release of e-mails and text messages detailing his office’s role in the plot to create severe gridlock in Fort Lee, N.J.”
“This is the exception — it is not the rule — of what’s happened over the last four years in this administration,” Christie said. He added that he was “stunned by the abject stupidity that was shown here.”
“Christie repeatedly invoked his ignorance of key events, providing a stark contrast to his carefully cultivated image as a hands-on, can-do chief executive.”
“I am embarrassed and humiliated by the conduct of some of the people on my team,” Christie said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that the conduct that they exhibited is completely unacceptable and showed a lack of respect for the appropriate role of government. “I’ve worked for the last 12 years in public life developing a reputation for honesty and directness.”
Mere days after it was uncovered that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s staff closed traffic lanes in the town nearest the GW Bridge, he is under investigation from the federal government for misuse of Hurricane Sandy relief funds.
“Matt Mowers, executive director of the New Hampshire Republican Party, is identified as a player in the prologue to the “Bridgegate” scandal plaguing his old boss, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Mowers was the regional political director of Christie’s reelection campaign. He had previously served in Christie’s governor’s office as a regional director of intergovernmental relations and legislative affairs. In both roles, Fort Lee was part of the Bergen County region he covered. Christie won reelection, Mowers was named as the top staffer of the New Hampshire GOP.
Both houses of the N.J. state Legislature announced they will create a special investigatory committees to continue investigating the George Washington Bridge lane closures. Incoming state Assembly speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) called the George Washington Bridge lane closures “an abuse of power.” “This has become more than a transportation issue,” Prieto said. “An abuse of power like this is not something we’re going to stand for.”
“U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone asked the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to look into the “Stronger than the Storm” advertising campaign because he thought it “smelled.” The campaign featured television commercials featuring Christie and his family talking about the state’s recovery from the hurricane.”
Gov. Christie on Tuesday vowed in his State of the State speech “to take steps to ensure the “breach of trust” that led to the turbulent political scandal rocking his office will not happen again. Mistakes were clearly made. And as a result, we let down the people we are entrusted to serve. I know our citizens deserve better. Much better.” I’m the governor and I am ultimately responsible for all that happens on my watch — both good and bad,” said Christie.
“New Jersey Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto announced this afternoon the names of 12 lawmakers who will sit on a new, high-profile committee looking into the George Washington Bridge scandal. The goal of the committee is to get answers to the questions that we have and continue on what the Assembly committee has already started, Prieto said, noting the focus will be in large part on public safety. We’ve got more questions than answers we’ve gotten.”
“The committee, set to be authorized Thursday, will have the assistance of a former federal prosecutor who led the case against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.”
Christie announced today the hiring of the Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher law firm and specifically Randy Mastro to assist both with the review and an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s office into the closings, which snarled traffic for four days in Fort Lee. Mastro, a former assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, specialized in organized crime and racketeering cases.
Related:
Timeline of Port Authority’s George Washington Bridge controversy, HERE.
Documents gathered by the NJ State Assembly posted here.
The Unmasking of Maine....and Beyond 