Bill Baroni was the top New Jersey representative to the bi-state Port Authority, serving as deputy executive director when the scandal hit. He’d hired David Wildstein for the Port Authority post. Baroni resigned as investigations into the George Washington Bridge lane closures were launched. His attorney Michael Baldassari’s response to today’s indictment? He called Wildstein a liar.
“And when all the facts come to light, Bill will be fully exonerated. Throughout his entire career of public service, Bill has placed principle over politics. His career has been marked by integrity and non-partisan pursuit of common good. He did not commit any of the acts for which he stands accused. By contrast, no one disputes that David Wildstein is a criminal and a liar. Today he said under oath that he is a criminal. The record in this case will equally clear that David Wildstein is a liar. He lied to Bill Baroni, his friend of over 10 years about the traffic study. David Wildstein lied to Peter Zipf, Port Authority chief engineer, when he told Mr. Zipf that he wanted to do a traffic study. David Wildstein lied to Bob Durando, George Washington Bridge general manager, when he told Mr. Durando that he wanted to do a traffic study. David Wildstein lied to Michael Drewniak, chief spokesman for Gov. Christie, when he told Mr. Drewniak that it was a traffic study. David Wildstein lied to Michael DuHaime, chief political strategist for Gov. Christie when he told Mr. DuHaime that the lane closures where a traffic study. David Wildstein lied to Nicole Crifo, senior counsel to Gov. Christie’s authorities union, when he told Ms. Crifo that the lane closures were a traffic study,” Baldassari said. “And today habitual liar David Wildstein lied under oath to a federal judge about Bill Baroni. If David Wildstein repeatedly lied to settle a petty political grudge, no one should be surprised at his eagerness to concoct any story that he thinks will help him stay out of federal prison. We’re confident that everyone will see this desperate ploy for exactly what it is.”
Since day one, Gov. Chris Christie has said he knew nothing about the political retribution plot against Fort Lee’s mayor for failing to endorse him, that the crippling jam at the George Washington Bridge on the first day of school so snarled emergency vehicles could not get through — all of it had nothing to do with him. Publicly blaming, even shaming his then deputy chief of staff Bridget Anne Kelly.
She had not been seen in public since the day Christie fired her. Today she emerged and responded to the charges against her, saying Wildstein is a liar.
“Good afternoon. Thank you all for coming today and giving me this opportunity to speak to you. For over a year I have remained quiet, while many of the people I believed in, trusted and respected have attempted to publicly discredit and even humiliate me. I am here today to say that I will no longer allow the lies that have been said about me or my role in the George Washington Bridge issue go unchallenged. Contrary to the way that I have been described by some of my former colleagues, I am not stupid. I am not weepy, insecure, unqualified or overwhelmed. I believe I was and still am a very qualified, hard working woman who took pride each and every day in being a loyal public employee. Like many working mothers, I too juggle the demands of an incredibly fast paced job with my responsibilities as a mother of four children while commuting close to four hours to and from work every day. For 20 incredible years I had the honor of working for the state of New Jersey in a career I absolutely loved. My time in state government was about public service. It gave me the opportunity, as best I could, to see that state government worked for the people of New Jersey, not against them,” Kelly said.
“With regard to the charges that have been brought against me, let me make something very clear. I am not guilty of these charges. I never order or conspired with David Wildstein to close or realign lanes of the bridge for any reason, much less for retribution. I do not know Mayor Mark Sokolich and I certainly harbor no ill feelings towards him. Let me also say this, I am not a liar. And I never lied to anyone about the George Washington Bridge issue. The characterization by some of my former colleagues in both the Mastro Report and even in sworn testimony, of my involvement in the George Washington Bridge issue is at best a mistake. Or at worst a lie. As the governor’s former spokesperson stated under oath, it is an absurd thought to believe that a member of the governor’s staff could close the George Washington Bridge. Additionally, for the indictment to suggest that I was the only person in the governor’s office who was aware of the George Washington Bridge issue is ludicrous,” she said.
“As a lifelong resident of Bergen County, who regularly uses the George Washington Bridge, as well as the access lanes through Fort Lee, I know how disruptive and frustrating it is to sit in severe traffic at the bridge and would never participate in something retaliatory or punitive. David Wildstein is a liar,” said Kelly. “Further, I had absolutely nothing to do with the decision to cancel meetings with Mayor Steve Fulop and his team. Any suggestion that I was a decision maker or that I had the authority to cancel the meetings is ridiculous.”