List of Christie allies tied to Port Authority schemes grows

Samson, 76, forced United Airlines to reinstate the unfrequented flight route, or he would withhold important votes the airline had before the Port Authority.

A former United Continental Holdings lobbyist and consultant, Jamie Fox, was also charged with conspiring to commit bribery.

While he served as chairman, Samson flew on United Airlines from Newark Airport to Columbia Metropolitan Airport in SC, which is approximately 50 miles from his vacation home. When airline representatives concluded the flight would lose money, Samson removed the hangar proposal from the board’s agenda.

The scandal already caused United Airlines to dump its CEO and another top executive past year.

United Airlines has escaped prosecution by U.S. authorities following a corruption probe, and has agreed to pay a $2.25 million penalty.

The Times pointed out that an email from David Wildstein, a Christie appointee to the Port Authority who faces charges in the scandal, contained a comment that turned the prosecutor’s spotlight on Samson, an investigation that widened into Samson’s business dealings beyond the bridge scandal.

At least one of the United executives understood that the official wanted the route “only because it would be more convenient for him to travel to (his) house in SC”, according to the narrative. Fox’s attorney says he will fight the charge.

Samson’s guilty plea could pose a problem for Christie, who has been tapped to lead Donald Trump’s transition team.

Samson’s attorney, Michael Chertoff, did not respond to a request for comment.

The charge, announced Thursday by U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey, follow Samson’s guilty plea to federal bribery charges earlier in the day. He also started his own law firm, Wolff & Samson, which was known for its close ties to New Jersey government officials – mainly due to Samson’s own contacts throughout the years.

“Jamie Fox has devoted his entire professional life to serving the citizens of New Jersey and his private clients honorably”, Critchely said, adding “he would never jeopardize his reputation” by engaging in the alleged criminal conduct.

Prosecutors say he illegally used his Port Authority of NY and New Jersey post to get Chicago-based United Airlines to provide direct air service to Columbia, South Carolina.

“This kind of case shakes public confidence in our institutions of government when people who are so accomplished, and who have occupied so many positions of public trust, misuse their authority to get something for themselves”, U.S. Attorney Fishman said.

Samson, a former state attorney general, led the governor’s transition team in 2009, and Christie appointed him to the Port Authority chairman’s post in 2011.

Fishman said that Christie played no role in arranging Samson’s flight.

“On multiple occasions, Fox communicated to United that its failure to reinstate the route had made Samson angry and was having a negative impact on United’s relationship with the Port Authority”. They gave it fast-track approval anyway, however, because they were warned that failing to please Samson could hold up a new hangar that United wanted at the Newark airport. United began flying Newark to Columbia in September 2012 and stopped in March 2014, just days after Samson resigned.

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, the Port Authority’s inspector general and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have scheduled a news conference for after the court proceeding.

In a statement on Thursday, Oscar Munoz, who replaced Smisek as United’s CEO, said that earning public trust is critical to the carrier’s success. Fox, a Democrat, went on to work for Christie as the state’s transportation commissioner after ending his work for United. “Following today’s plea, we will continue to move forward with the reforms that have been adopted and embraced by all members of the Port Authority and its leadership”, the statement said.

Samson wasn’t charged in the bridge investigation, in which the Christie allies were accused of closing lanes leading to the bridge to exact revenge against a politician. In the email, Port Authority official David Wildstein wrote that Samson was “helping us retaliate” against agency executive director Patrick Foye, who had helped reopen lanes on the George Washington Bridge.