Ex-Christie aide tells bridge scandal panel she feared she'd be fired, if she crossed Bridget Kelly and David Wildstein by reporting the memo Kelly had asked her to delete to Christie's chief counsel.
Chris Matthews of MSNBC says what troubles him most is the picture that emerges that retaliation against mayors was "business as usual" in the Governor's office. Also, Christina Renna testified that she did not believe Bridge Kelly was the architect of this scheme and that the Governor's staff were told information on a "need to know basis."
From NJ.com:
TRENTON — A former staff member in Gov. Chris Christie's office today testified that she “had no knowledge or involvement” in the plan to close New Jersey toll lanes to the George Washington Bridge — and that she feared Christie's team would fire her for reporting suspicious activity by her boss.
Christina Genovese Renna, who worked for Bridget Anne Kelly at the time of the lane closures, described her former boss as erratic and unstable, "enormously overwhelmed and enormously stressed with day-to-day life."
Renna said it was hard to picture Kelly as the driving force behind the plan to shut down the access lanes to the bridge.
"I wouldn't say she was the architect, but she was instrumental in the process ," she said.
Renna also reports that she did not believe Kelly was coordinating the lane closures with Bill Stepien because they were not on speaking terms, saying "I am quite certain that they were not coordinating activities. I know because Bridget told me that she was not on speaking terms with Bill Stepien."
Micheal Booth, of the New Jersey Law Journal writes Former Aide Says Bridget Kelly Was 'Nervous and Erratic' on Bridgegate
Among other revelations, Renna said she had emailed Kelly on Sept. 12 to tell her that the mayor, Mark Sokolich, had called an IGA staffer to express how upset and disturbed he was by the traffic jams caused by the lane closures. Renna said that Kelly replied, "Good."
Renna said Kelly called her Dec. 12, after the scandal had made national headlines, and discussed the email. "She was nervous and erratic," Renna said. "She was talking in circles and I had a hard time following her."
Renna said Kelly asked her to delete the e-mail from her Google account. "Do me a favor and get rid of it," Renna quoted Kelly as saying. Renna said she did so but not before forwarding a copy to another account she maintained.
The Law Journal promises to post a full story later today.
Celeste Katz, of the New York Daily News, reports Gov. Cuomo and Chris Christie create "special panel" on Port Authority reform, as if they were taking a cue from comic Joe McHale, announcing they are going to "announce an investigation to get to the bottom" of Port Authoriy troubles before declaring themselves to be innocent,
Gov. Cuomo and his New Jersey counterpart, Chris Christie, on Tuesday released a joint letter announcing that the sprawling bistate agency will be scrutinized by a "special panel" on the future of the Port.
The panel of two sitting PA commissioners from each state, plus a top lawyer for each governor, is to study the "governance, legal and operational issues" entailed in reforming the authority and report back within 60 days.
In a paragon of understatement after the Bridgegate scandal roiled the agency -- and politics on both sides of the river -- the letter also noted "The Port has also had recent disruptions which must be addressed."
Just Tuesday, a former Christie aide testified Tuesday that the mayor of Fort Lee was in the doghouse with the governor's team.
If you haven't read xaxnar's excellent article The biggest Christie news is still probably xaxnar's Forget Christie and Bridgegate - Christie and the Tunnels Are an Even Bigger Mess, which has been on the front page recommend list for several days I encourage you to do so.
4:46 PM PT: Here's the complete transcript of the section of Joel McHales remarks about Chris Christie at the White House Correspondents Dinner. His send send-up summary of Chris Christie's response to the GWB lane closings is the best description of the Governor's actual strategy I've seen yet.
White House Correspondents Dinner: Transcript of Joel McHale’s Remarks
Speaking of digestive systems, Chris Christie is here. (Laughter.) He’s actually here tonight. Wow, sir, you are a glutton — for punishment. So here we go. (Laughter.)
Chris Christie, his administration canceled the train tunnel to Manhattan. They’re closing the Pulaski Skyway, and they blocked the George Washington Bridge. Finally, a politician willing to stand up to America’s commuters. (Laughter.)
Governor, do you want bridge jokes or size jokes? Because I’ve got a bunch of both. I could go half and half. I know you like a combo platter. (Laughter.) Now, I get that. I’m sorry for that joke, Governor Christie. I didn’t know I was going to tell it, but I take full responsibility for it. (Laughter.) Whoever wrote it will be fired. But the buck stops here. So I will be a man and own up to it, just as soon as I get to the bottom of how it happened, because I was unaware it happened until just now.
I’m appointing a blue-ribbon commission of me to investigate the joke I just told. And if I find any wrongdoing on my part, I assure you I will be dealt with. (Laughter, applause.) I just looked into it. It turns out I’m not responsible for it. Justice has been served. (Laughter, applause.)
He’s going to kill me. (Laughter.)
8:18 PM PT: Thanks to Phoeb Loosinhouse for correcting a mistaken reference I made in the original version of this post to the email Kelly made that referred to "time for traffic problems" rather than the one saying "good" when learning Sokolich was upset. Sorry.