Sunday, November 6, 2016

According to CNBC.com, two former Chris Christie were convicted on Friday of conspiracy and fraud in the 2013 plot known as "Bridgegate" to use the lane closures on the George Washington Bridge as a means of political retribution. The two convicted were Chris Christie's former Chief of Staff, Bridget Kelly, and his former Port Authority official, Bill Baroni and could be face 20 years in prison. The two were also convicted of working with former Christie aide, David Wildstein to punish the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee for not endorsing the Republican governor's re-election bid. Christie has denied having any knowledge of the 2013 plan to close lanes on the bridge, but some of the testimony in the case implied that Christie was in fact aware of the plot before it took place. In a statement, Christie said he is "saddened by this case and the choices made by Bill Baroni, Bridget Kelly, and David Wildstein. Today's verdict does not change this for me." He also added, "But let me be clear once again, I had no knowledge prior to or during these lane realignments, and had no role in authorizing them. No believable evidence was presented to contradict that fact. Anything said to the contrary over the past six weeks in court is simply untrue." The sentencing for both Kelly and Baroni is set for February 21, 2017.
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/04/two-ex-chris-christie-allies-found-guilty-on-all-charges-in-bridgegate-trial.html

William 'Bill' Baroni, former deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, left, and Bridget Anne Kelly, former deputy chief of staff for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, center, exit the federal court in Newark, New Jersey, U.S., on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016.

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