Texts from one of New Jersey's Governor Chris Christie's top aides has now linked him to a previously suspected vendetta against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich after he refused to back Christie in his run for reelection, the Associated Press reported.
Last fall, Christie was seeking the support of North Jersey Democrats in an effort to "forge bipartisanship," and though he gained several supporters, others, including Fort Lee Mayor did not jump on board, according to the AP.
On Aug. 13, Bridget Ann Kelly, Christie's deputy chief, wrote to David Wildstein, who was then a top political appointee of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, "time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," according to the AP. Wildstein replied: "got it."
The email was sent three weeks before massive lane closures caused hours of traffic back up on the New Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge, leaving a long line of backed-up cars in Fort Lee during the first day of school in New Jersey last fall, the AP reported.
The email is only one of many messages released Wednesday supporting the claims Christie aides, and in extension Christie himself, were involved in the lane closures to purposefully seek revenge on Sokolich, according to the AP.
On the second day of the lane closures, Sokolich sent a text to Bill Baroni, a then Port Authority official, saying: "Presently we have four very busy traffic lanes merging into only one toll booth. ... The bigger problem is getting kids to school. Help please. It's maddening," CNN reported.
The following messages in regards to Sokolich's plea for help provides more insight on what may have occurred, CNN reported
After seeing the message a person whose name has been omitted from the media wrote to Wildstein: "Is it wrong that I am smiling?"
That message was followed by another sent by the same unknown person saying: ""I feel badly about the kids. I guess," to which Wildstein replied "They are the children of Buono voters," according to CNN.
Barbara Buono was Christie's Democratic opponent whom he beat in last year's race, CNN reported. Baroni resigned in December from his post due to the lane closures.
Christie has denied any personal vendetta against Sokolich and has also denied any and all claims his aides were involved with the lane closures, the AP reported. Christie accepted Wildstein's resignation when the lane closures gained attention.
After the emails and messages were released today, Christie cancelled a scheduled morning event, according to the AP.
Wildstein, also a close childhood friend of Christies, is set to testify under oath before a State Assembly committee about the lane closings, the AP reported. There are currently three ongoing investigations being carried out.
