Another revealing day at the Bridgegate trial. Testimony alleging there was coordination between Govs. Chris Christie and Andrew Cuomo on how to handle the growing controversy that was engulfing the Port Authority after those lane closings on the George Washington Bridge. Cameras are not allowed in federal court, but NJTV News Chief Political Correspondent Michael Aron was there.
Mary Alice Williams: Michael?
Aron: Mary Alice, David Wildstein withstood a day of cross examination by one of the best, Michael Critchley.
Critchley represents Bridget Kelly and today he got Wildstein to say she was not part of efforts in October 2013 to get a report written at the Port Authority about the lane closures.
Instead the request for a report came out of the governor’s office with coordination from Gov. Cuomo’s office in Albany.
Critchley: “Do you recall saying to the government that McKenna, Egea and Stepien had ordered a report as to what happened?”
Wildstein: “Yes, sir.”
Critchley: “You said you would get Foye to sign it?”
Wildstein: “Yes, there was an intention to get Mr. Foye to sign it.”
Critchley: “And you thought it would be a heavy lift but it could get done because there was an order from Albany to lay off Christie.”
Wildstein: “Yes, sir, because Cuomo wanted to lay off on Christie. Yes, sir.”
Critchley: “So was it your understanding that Pat Foye would sign off on a false report?”
Wildstein: “Yes, sir, because Cuomo wanted to lay off Christie.”
That report, by the way, was never produced.
Critchley also tried to shift responsibility away from his client, Bridget Kelly.
Critchley: “She was not a decision-maker, you told people. When you were interviewed by the government, you told them she was not a decision-maker.”
Wildstein: “I told them she instructed me to close the lanes.”
Critchley: “But you told them she was not a decision-maker. Did you say that Bridget Kelly never made a decision on her own — yes or no?”
Wildstein: “No, I never told them she never made a decision on her own.”
Critchley: “It says here [looking at a document] you told them she didn’t even make minor decisions on her own.”
Wildstein: “Sir, I don’t recall saying that, no.”
A lot of Republican names got thrown around today, as Critchley tried to push Bridgegate into the upper reaches of the Christie administration.
One was Sen. Kevin O’Toole, who Wildstein called for advice after being fired.
They spoke right after Christie told a news conference he knew nothing about the scheme. That was Dec. 13.
Critchley: “He — meaning Christie — says, ‘I know nothing about the lane closures.'”
Wildstein: “Yes, sir.”
Critchley: “So you’re saying he lied on Dec. 13.”
Wildstein: “Yes, sir, I am.”
Critchley: “Did you tell Kevin O’Toole that Gov. Christie lied at his press conference today?”
Wildstein: “No, sir.”
Cross-examination ended this afternoon. After some re-direct by prosecutors and maybe re-cross, Wildstein is expected to be excused tomorrow after seven days on the witness stand.
Williams: So no bombshells?
Aron: No bombshells but heavy emphasis on how controlling the governor’s office was of all the events at the Port Authority and at Bridgegate and how so much at the Port Authority — at least on the New Jersey side — was done with a view toward advancing Chris Christie’s re-election process, Mary Alice.
Williams: Thank you, Michael.