Opening arguments before U.S. District Judge Wigenton in Newark federal court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna told jurors at the start of a trial that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie knew his top allies were involved in the snarling of traffic near the George Washington Bridge to punish a mayor who didn’t back Christie’s re-election.
The case is U.S. v. Baroni, 15-cr-00193, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey (Newark).
Bloomberg reports that for the first time the government has made that claim since the scandal became public.
Khanna’s statement contradicted three years of denials by the governor. While Christie’s political opponents have investigated the closings, and a probe funded by his administration purported to clear him, this marked the first time a prosecutor said Christie knew of the plot as it was happening.
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Kelly and Baroni are charged with conspiracy to misuse Port Authority property, wire fraud, deprivation of civil rights and conspiracy against civil rights. They face as many as 20 years in prison on the most serious charge.
Wildstein pleaded guilty to two conspiracy counts last year and is cooperating with prosecutors. He’s set to be the government’s star witness and to serve as the principal narrator in describing the plot and the cover-up to the jury, said Lee Vartan, a former federal prosecutor not involved in the case.
Stay tuned. The defendants have pleaded not guilty and promise a defense that will explore the inner workings of Christie’s administration.