Prosecutor says Christie knew of bridge lane closings

NEWARK, N.J. — A federal prosecutor told jurors Monday that a witness will testify that Republican Gov. Chris Christie was told about the closure of traffic lanes near the George Washington Bridge as the shutdown was happening, a claim he has contested for years.

The trial comes three years after gridlock paralyzed a town next to the busy bridge connecting New Jersey to New York City for four days. Prosecutors said Bill Baroni and Bridget Kelly, two former Christie allies, had sought political revenge against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, a Democrat who had declined to endorse Christie’s re-election. Baroni was a top Christie appointee to Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Kelly was Christie’s former chief of staff.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna told jurors that David Wildstein, another Port Authority official, will testify he and Baroni made Christie aware of the plan during a Sept. 11 memorial in New York City in 2013, three days after the gridlock started.

“The evidence will show that ... they bragged about the fact that there were traffic problems in Fort Lee and that Mayor Sokolich was not getting his calls returned,” Khanna said.

Christie has denied knowing about the scheme and wasn’t charged in the federal investigation. A message left at his office Monday seeking comment wasn’t returned.

Baroni’s attorney told jurors Monday that Wildstein is a twisted, vindictive individual who is a habitual liar. He said Baroni acted in good faith throughout and the lane closures were a legitimate attempt to study traffic patterns at the bridge.

Christie, an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, conceded last week that the bridge scandal was a factor in GOP nominee Donald Trump’s not picking him as a running mate.