OPINION

EDITORIAL: Who’s telling the truth about Bridgegate?

Gannett New Jersey Editorial Board

So, who’s lying about whether Gov. Chris Christie knew about the George Washington Bridge lane closings while they were happening?

Christie? Or those who have claimed he knew? That’s a list that includes the lane closing’s mastermind, David Wildstein, the federal prosecutors and defense attorneys in the ongoing Bridgegate trial, Donald Trump and Christie’s former deputy chief of staff, Bridget Anne Kelly.

Wildstein, a former executive at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey awaiting sentencing on charges tied to the lane closings, testified this week that he and Bill Baroni, another Port Authority executive on trial for his alleged role in Bridgegate, told Christie of the plot at a Sept. 11 ceremony — the third day into the five days of lane closures.

Wildstein said Christie acknowledged the lane closings, “seemed pleased” about them and joked about them. The traffic tieups were aimed at punishing the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee for refusing to endorse Christie’s 2013 re-election bid.

At an unrelated press conference Tuesday, Christie continued to invoke his Sergeant Schultz “I-hear-nothing, I-see-nothing, I-know-nothing!” defense. Said Christie, “I had no knowledge prior to, or during, these lane realignments. I had no role in authorizing it. I had no knowledge of it.”

Christie has acknowledged meeting Wildstein at the Sept. 11 ceremony, but said he didn’t have “any recollection” of the substance of their conversation.

In federal prosecutors’ opening arguments in the trial, they contended Christie knew about the lane closures while they were taking place. If so, why wasn’t he charged? The logical explanation is they didn’t feel they had the evidence they needed for a conviction. Wildstein’s word isn’t enough, nor is that of Baroni, who will take the stand later in the trial. Both have credibility issues.

It’s too soon to predict how things will play out for Christie. But the testimony about how the Port Authority and the governor’s staff functioned as a campaign arm for his re-election, seeking endorsements of Democratic mayors by using a “goody bag” of enticements, ranging from grants, used cars, surplus equipment and patronage jobs, is damning.

Former Christie aide Matt Mower, who worked in the Governor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, said a spreadsheet with the names of Democratic mayors ranked them from 1 to 10 on the likelihood of their endorsing Christie, along with details about the favors done for them, such as inviting them to sit in the governor’s box at sporting events or joining Christie at the governor’s mansion for private meals.

Whether federal prosecutors succeed in proving Christie knew about the lane closings or not, the trial already has done irrevocable damage to his irrevocably devalued reputation. Things could get even worse if prosecutors turn their attention, as they should, to Christie’s blatant use of publicly funded resources for personal political gain.