Emails Show a Vengeful Chris Christie Aide in Bridge Lane Closing Scandal

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Freshly leaked emails from inside New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s office reveal an alleged plot on the part of a top aide to get revenge on a local Democratic mayor.

The emails, which you can read in full below, begin with Christie’s deputy chief-of-staff Bridget Anne Kelly telling David Wildstein, a friend of Christie’s and a Christie appoinbtee at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, that it was “time” for some traffic problems in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

When the emails were written, the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, Mark Sokolich, was refusing to enforce the Republican Chris Christie’s campaign to be re-elected governor. The emails go on to assert that the only people being hurt by the traffic jams that clogged the George Washington Bridge, which connects Democratic-controlled North New Jersey to New York City, are people who did not vote for Christie. Amid the scandal revolving around the September bridge closures, Wildstein resigned from the Port Authority in December.

The emails resulted in a closing of local access lanes to to the George Washington Bridge for an entire week, causing terribly long delays that infuriated commuters. Back in November, Mayor Sokolich told NJ.com that he felt like he was being punished. Now, it appears he was right.

In light of the emerging scandal, Christie has canceled a public event celebrating rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy. A statement released by Christie Wednesday night read:

What I’ve seen today for the first time is unacceptable. 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. This behavior is not representative of me or my Administration in any way, and people will be held responsible for their actions.