Steve Kornaki: Another Christie childhood friend witnessed traffic surge
By Steve Kornacki and Brian Murphy
A Port Authority police officer with personal ties to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was at the George Washington Bridge when access lanes were closed last September and personally drove David Wildstein, the Christie appointee who supervised the closings, on a tour of the area as traffic brought it to a standstill.
Documents submitted to a New Jersey legislative committee by Wildstein also show that the officer, Lieutenant Thomas “Chip” Michaels, appears to have sent periodic text messages to Wildstein updating him on the effects of the lane closures and their crippling impact on the town of Fort Lee. In one message, on the first day of the lane closures, Michaels told Wildstein he might have an idea to “make this better.” It is not clear what he meant.
Michaels, who joined the Port Authority Police Department in 1998 according to payroll records, grew up in Christie and Wildstein’s hometown of Livingston, N.J. In recent years, he coached Christie’s son at little league hockey. Michael’s brother, Jeffrey Michaels is among the most powerful Republicans in New Jersey politics – a lobbyist whose practice has soared in value during the Christie years and who has donated heavily to pro-Christie organizations.
Michaels’ presence at the lane closures with Wildstein is an important new detail because it places another person with long-time ties to the governor, this time in the Port Authority Police Department, at the scene witnessing the traffic surge that has since come to engulf Chrstie’s administration in legal inquires.
video at link
http://www.msnbc.com/steve-kornacki/christie-port-authority-fort-lee-wildstein?cid=sm_twitter
David Wildstein’s texts w/ redacted, apparently Christie childhood friend Chip Michaels on second day of closure
David Wildstein's email to say he’s “taking a ride with chip” to check out the Fort Lee GWB lane closures
https://twitter.com/upwithsteve
Report: Another Christie Ally At GW Bridge For Lane Closures
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/christie-ally-lane-closures
A Port Authority police officer who grew up with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was at the George Washington Bridge to witness the lane closings, and was in communication with David Wildstein, a port authority official who has also been tied to the scandal, according to MSNBC.
Lieutenant Thomas "Chip" Michaels sent text messages to Wildstein updating him about the lane closures and their impact on the town of Fort Lee, according to documents submitted to the New Jersey legislative committee by Wildstein and reviewed by Brian Murphy and Steve Kornacki for MSNBC.
While at the bridge, Michaels sent Wildstein a text message to tell him he had an idea to "make this better," according to MSNBC.
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Can't wait to see what's next!!! 