David Wildstein

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The George Washington Bridge, which connects the city of Fort Lee, New Jersey with New York City and is one of the busiest bridges in the world, is managed by the Port Authority.

From September 9 through September 13, 2013, two of the three lanes providing local access to a Fort Lee entrance to the bridge were closed on Wildstein's orders without notification of local government officials, emergency responders, or other Port Authority officials, resulting in massive traffic congestion and delays for the community of Fort Lee. Some local officials and political commentators speculated that Wildstein and associates in the Christie administration had ordered the lane closures as political retribution against the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, or other members of the Democratic Party who represent Fort Lee.

In early December 2013, just days before the state legislature was scheduled to begin hearings to investigate the lane closures, Wildstein announced his resignation, saying he had planned to leave the agency the following year but "the Fort Lee issue has been a distraction, and I think it's better to move on earlier." [19] Under subpoena from the legislature ordering him to produce documents related to the lane closures, Wildstein turned over emails and text messages that showed Christie administration aides discussing the lane closures. In an eight-word email, Christie's deputy chief of staff, Bridget Anne Kelly, wrote to Wildstein in August 2013, "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee." [20] Wildstein replied "Got it" one minute later. [21] [20] [22]

When New York appointees at the Port Authority, who had not been notified that the lanes would be closed, reopened the lanes, Wildstein told Kelly that the Port Authority's chair, also an appointee of Christie, was "helping us to retaliate." [21] In an email exchange about fallout over the lane closures between Wildstein and Christie's campaign chief and closest political confidante, Bill Stepien, Wildstein wrote, "It will be a tough November for this little Serbian," apparently referring to Fort Lee's Democratic mayor, Mark Sokolich (who is actually of Croatian, not Serbian, ancestry). [23]

Called to testify before a state Assembly committee investigating the lanes closure in January 2014, Wildstein invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to answer the committee members' questions. [24] The committee found him in contempt and referred the case for prosecution. [25] Wildstein's attorney Alan Zegas said that Wildstein would answer any questions if granted immunity from prosecution. [25]

On January 31, 2014, a letter from counsel for Wildstein alleged that, in contrast to Christie's public assertions, the governor knew of the lane closures while they were happening in September 2013 and suggested that Wildstein had documents to prove his claims. [26] [27]

Guilty plea and cooperation with federal prosecutors

Wildstein pleaded guilty in federal district court in Newark, New Jersey to two felony counts of conspiracyone count of conspiracy to misapply property of the Port Authority and one count of conspiracy to violate the civil rights of Fort Lee residents in the September 2013 lane closingsas part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. [28] [29] He was later sentenced to three years of probation. [30]

The plea agreement was signed on January 12, 2015, and publicly released on May 1, 2015, when Wildstein formally entered his guilty plea in court before Judge Susan D. Wigenton. [28] [29] Wildstein's attorney confirmed that he had been cooperating with federal investigators for some months. [29] On the same day, William E. "Bill" Baroni (then the deputy executive directory of the Port Authority) and Bridget Anne Kelly (then deputy chief of staff to Governor Chris Christie) were indicted on nine counts each in connection with the scandal. [29] [31] Kelly denied any responsibility for the Bridgegate scandalsaying "I am not guilty for the crimes for which I've been accused"and said: "David Wildstein is a liar." [31]

In the plea hearing, Wildstein admitted that he had conspired with Baroni and Kelly to shut down the lanes and cause significant traffic problems in retribution for Sokolich's decision not to endorse Christie for reelection. [29] In return for his cooperation with federal prosecutors, Wildstein was released on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond before his sentencing hearing. [29] Sentencing of Wildstein was originally scheduled for August 2015, but it was delayed until after the trial of Baroni and Kelly, who had pleaded not guilty. [32] According to the Bergen County Record , "Federal prosecutors routinely postpone sentencing of government cooperators who have pleaded guilty until after the trial for which they are a potential witness so that the extent of their cooperation may be considered by the judge" at their own sentencing. [32]

The trial of Baroni and Kelly finally began on September 19, 2016. [33] As part of Wildstein's plea agreement, he testified against both defendants, [32] becoming a "key witness" in the proceeding. [34] During the trial, Wildstein testified that Christie and Baroni were aware of the plan while the closures were taking place. [35] [36] Baroni and Kelly were convicted on all counts on November 14, 2016.

Baroni was sentenced to 2 years in prison and Kelly to 18 months, with both maintaining their innocence and stating their intention to appeal. [34]

Wildstein, who had been facing a potential of 21 to 27 months in federal prison, was sentenced to three years of probation on July 12, 2017. [29] [30] [37]

Baroni and Kelly later appealed their convictions to the US Supreme Court, which unanimously overturned their conviction of fraud since no money was involved.

Justice Elena Kagan wrote, in the court's opinion: “For no reason other than political payback, Baroni and Kelly used deception to reduce Fort Lee’s access lanes to the George Washington Bridge—and thereby jeopardized the safety of the town’s residents. But not every corrupt act by state or local officials is a federal crime. Because the scheme here did not aim to obtain money or property, Baroni and Kelly could not have violated the federal-program fraud or wire fraud laws. We therefore reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeals and remand the case for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.” [38]

See also

Notes

  1. Several sources published in December 2013 or January 2014 said Wildstein was 52 at the time. For example, see [1]
  2. One source [6] says he won a seat on the school board.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Glueck, Katie; Schulteis, Emily (January 9, 2014). "The Christie aides brought down by Bridgegate". Politico.
  2. Seidman, Andrew (12 June 2020). "Judge reverses conviction of 'Bridgegate' mastermind David Wildstein". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2023-02-09. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  3. New Jersey Jewish News: "Jewish figures on all sides of 'Bridgegate' - Christie friends, foes include a schoolmate, attorney, and mayor" by Robert Wiener, January 29, 2014
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Ted Sherman; Strunsky, Steve (December 15, 2013). "Port Authority scandal: the rising star and the mystery man inside a growing investigation". The Star-Ledger.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Boburg, Shawn (March 4, 2012). "Ex-blogger is Governor Christie's eyes, ears inside the Port Authority". The Record.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Rokus, Brian (January 9, 2014). "Who is David Wildstein?". CNN. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014.
  7. 1 2 MacGillis, Alec (January 10, 2014). "Chris Christie barely knew David Wildstein? Their old coach says different". The New Republic.
  8. "The Jewish Floridian". ufdc.ufl.edu. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  9. "Lawmakers Form Caucus on Israel". September 29, 1983. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  10. "David Wildstein Is (Jewish) Man in the Middle of Chris Christie's Bridgegate Scandal". January 10, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  11. 1 2 "Written testimony of Bill Baroni to Questions Submitted by Sen. Frank Lautenberg". Hearing before the US Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (112th Congress, 2nd Session) April 18, 2012. US Government Printing Office.
  12. "Bridge scandal: meet Chris Christie and the other major players". The Star-Ledger. January 9, 2014.
  13. 1 2 Isenstadt, Alex (January 9, 2014). "My time with Chris Christie's scandal-plagued aide David Wildstein". Politico.
  14. NJ.com, Joe Atmonavage | NJ Advance Media for (February 16, 2022). "N.J. man Trump pardoned in stalking, harassment case pleads guilty to cybercrimes in New York". nj.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. Wildstein, David (July 4, 2018). "Thank you, New Jersey!". New Jersey Globe.
  16. Kelly, Mike. "'Bridgegate' architect returns from political exile. Is this justice? Or is it just weird?". North Jersey Media Group.
  17. Clegg, E., Kennedy, D. (2024). What Works in Community News: Media Startups, News Deserts, and the Future of the Fourth Estate. United States: Beacon Press.
  18. Tully, Tracey (June 5, 2023). "Can Christie Succeed as 'Trump Slayer'? New Jersey Has Thoughts" via NYTimes.com.
  19. Boburg, Shawn (December 6, 2013). "Port Authority official at center of lane-closure controversy quits". The Record.
  20. 1 2 Emails Between Top Christie Aides and Port Authority Officials, The New York Times (January 8, 2014).
  21. 1 2 Zernike, Kate (January 8, 2014). "Christie faces scandal on traffic jam aides ordered". The New York Times.
  22. Timeline of events around GWB lane-closure controversy, The Record (January 8, 2014).
  23. Rucker, Philip; Blake, Aaron (January 8, 2014). "Emails suggest Christie aides jammed traffic as political revenge". The Washington Post.
  24. Portnoy, Jenna (January 9, 2014). "At bridge scandal hearing, former Port Authority official pleads the Fifth, won't comment". Star-Ledger.
  25. 1 2 "Ex-Christie appointee found in contempt for refusing to answer questions on GWB lane closures". CBS New York. Associated Press. January 9, 2013.
  26. "Letter From Wildstein's Lawyer on Lane Closings". The New York Times. February 1, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  27. Zernike, Kate (January 31, 2014). "Christie Knew About Lane Closings, Ex-Port Authority Official Says". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  28. 1 2 David Wildstein's Plea Agreement in Bridge Lane-Closing Scandal, The New York Times.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Christie ally David Wildstein pleads guilty, says Bridgegate closures were retribution, NJ.com (May 1, 2015).
  30. 1 2 Coranasiti, Nick (July 12, 2017). "David Wildstein, a Christie Ally, Is Sentenced to Probation in Bridge Scandal". The New York Times.
  31. 1 2 Updates on George Washington Bridge Scandal, The New York Times (May 1, 2015).
  32. 1 2 3 Shawn Boburg, GWB probe: Sentencing for David Wildstein delayed until January, The Record (August 6, 2015).
  33. "Bridgegate trial begins today: How does it all end?". September 19, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  34. 1 2 "Bridgegate sentencing: Bridget Kelly gets 18 months in jail, Bill Baroni 2 years". March 29, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  35. SAMPSON, DUSTIN RACIOPPI and PETER J. "Wildstein testifies he told Christie of GWB plot during meeting at 9/11 memorial". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  36. "Bridgegate prosecutors: Wildstein to testify he told Christie of lane closings". September 19, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  37. "Wildstein sentencing in Bridgegate scandal is postponed". June 6, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  38. Supreme Court of the United States (May 7, 2020). "KELLY v. UNITED STATES ET AL. CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT No. 18–1059" (PDF). supremecourt.gov.
David Wildstein
Mayor of Livingston, New Jersey
In office
1987–1988