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March 12, 2014

Fmr. Christie Aides Face Court over Subpoenas; Gov. Gave 9/11 Wreckage as Gift for Endorsements 
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Two key players in New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s "Bridgegate"
scandal were called before a judge on Tuesday over their refusal to
comply with state subpoenas. Bridget Kelly, Christie's former deputy
chief of staff, and Bill Stepien, his former campaign manager, have
refused to hand over documents to investigators. Emails already released
show Christie aides and officials conspired to close lanes leading to
the George Washington Bridge in an apparent act of political retaliation
against the mayor of Fort Lee. One email from Kelly infamously said:
"Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee." While Stepien avoided the
hearing, Kelly braved a throng of reporters to make her first public
appearance since the scandal broke open. Her attorney, Michael
Critchley, argued that handing over more emails and documents would
violate Kelly's constitutional rights, including the right to avoid
self-incrimination.

Michael Critchley: "They are basically requiring us to incriminate
ourselves by asking us to turn over these type of documents and give the
testimony of communications that go with the act of production, and
that's unconstitutional, Judge."

Governor Christie has denied involvement or even knowledge of his aides'
plot to close the bridge lanes. The controversy has threatened his
prospects for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. In the
scandal's latest turn, The New York Times reports the Christie
administration used salvaged scraps of metal from the 9/11 wreckage of
the World Trade Center as gifts to New Jersey mayors who endorsed
Christie's re-election.

 

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