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Bridge Case Witness Thought He Was Still on Christie's Team
Source: Associated Press
Bridge Case Witness Thought He Was Still on Christie's Team
By DAVID PORTER, ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWARK, N.J. — Sep 28, 2016, 11:50 AM ET
A self-described conspirator in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing case testified Wednesday that he expected to stay in Republican Gov. Chris Christie's "political future" even after he resigned in the wake of revelations that the resulting traffic jam might have been politically motivated.
On direct questioning by the government, David Wildstein said he was told by Christie senior staffers to resign in December 2013, three months after the September lane realignment at the bridge plunged the town of Fort Lee into four days of gridlock. The plan was to punish Democratic Mayor Mark Sokolich for not endorsing Christie's re-election, Wildstein testified earlier.
Wildstein, who testified Tuesday that Christie was told about the traffic jam while it was underway, said he thought he would take some time off and then play a different role for the governor after he resigned as executive at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees New York-area bridges and tunnels.
"I had been told by others I was still on the governor's team," he said. "I was told the governor was happy I'd stepped up and taken responsibility."
Wildstein said that assessment came from Christie campaign manager Bill Stepien and political adviser Michael DuHaime.
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By DAVID PORTER, ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWARK, N.J. — Sep 28, 2016, 11:50 AM ET
A self-described conspirator in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing case testified Wednesday that he expected to stay in Republican Gov. Chris Christie's "political future" even after he resigned in the wake of revelations that the resulting traffic jam might have been politically motivated.
On direct questioning by the government, David Wildstein said he was told by Christie senior staffers to resign in December 2013, three months after the September lane realignment at the bridge plunged the town of Fort Lee into four days of gridlock. The plan was to punish Democratic Mayor Mark Sokolich for not endorsing Christie's re-election, Wildstein testified earlier.
Wildstein, who testified Tuesday that Christie was told about the traffic jam while it was underway, said he thought he would take some time off and then play a different role for the governor after he resigned as executive at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees New York-area bridges and tunnels.
"I had been told by others I was still on the governor's team," he said. "I was told the governor was happy I'd stepped up and taken responsibility."
Wildstein said that assessment came from Christie campaign manager Bill Stepien and political adviser Michael DuHaime.
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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/jury-views-legislative-testimony-jersey-bridge-trial-42416183