NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Federal prosecutors are portraying a defendant in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal as an attack dog for Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie rather than someone just following orders.
Former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive Bill Baroni testified Monday he was hoodwinked by colleague David Wildstein, who has pleaded guilty in the political revenge scheme. Baroni maintained he believed the closures on the busy bridge between New Jersey and New York were part of a traffic study.
But Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Cortes on Tuesday asked Baroni about times he had acted as Christie’s attack dog, including cursing out the head of the state firefighters’ union. Cortes also asked about attacks on the late Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg at a hearing on toll hikes.