NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The agency that operates the George Washington Bridge sent press releases promoting a false story about traffic jams that prosecutors say were caused by two former allies of New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie for political retribution.
Executive director Patrick Foye testified Wednesday that he approved the releases that said the traffic jams in Fort Lee in September 2013 were due to a traffic study. He said he knew the assertion to be untrue.
Foye’s deputy executive director, Bill Baroni, is on trial with former Christie deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly. They’re charged with creating traffic jams to punish a Democratic mayor for not endorsing Christie.
The mayor testified he initially lied, saying he didn’t think the closures were for political revenge, because he was afraid of jeopardizing a redevelopment project.