NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – For well over a year, attorneys for two former allies of Gov. Chris Christie charged in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing case have made veiled references to information which, if released, could shift the public’s understanding of the scandal that dogged Christie’s failed presidential campaign.
The publishing this week of transcripts of a text conversation that indicated a former Christie aide believed Christie lied to reporters about whether senior staffers were involved, may just be the opening salvo.
Attorneys for Bill Baroni and Bridget Kelly, who face a federal trial next month, are expected to argue to a jury that the alleged scheme extended well beyond their clients and that they are being scapegoated for the actions of others, including David Wildstein, the former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey official who has pleaded guilty and will testify for the government.
The December 2013 text from Christina Renna, contained in a filing by Baroni’s attorney late Tuesday, pushed the needle in that direction.
According to the filing, Renna texted a colleague during a Christie news conference that the governor “flat out lied” when he told reporters his senior staff and campaign manager Bill Stepien weren’t involved.