Government’s star witness set to take stand in bridge trial

Baroni wanted to hire Wildstein as his No. 2 and to be the “bad cop” who would work “aggressively” to advance New Jersey’s interests at the agency.

A former Port Authority of NY and New Jersey official who pleaded guilty in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing case testifies he considered himself the “bad cop” who would aggressively push Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s agenda at the powerful bistate agency.

Jurors in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing case have heard testimony that a former official who pleaded guilty was “protected” by Republican Gov. Chris Christie. Wildstein could testify as early as Friday.

Wildstein said Christie and his former campaign manager, Bill Stepien, were among those who discussed the strategy at a meeting about Christie’s 2013 re-election.

Wildstein pleaded guilty previous year to orchestrating traffic jams in 2013 to punish a mayor who didn’t endorse Christie.

“The one-constituent rule meant that the only person who mattered was Governor Christie”, Wildstein said.

Traffic moves over the Hudson River and across the George Washington Bridge between New York City, and Fort Lee, New Jersey, on December 17, 2013.

A former official who pleaded guilty in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing case and is expected to be the government’s star witness is set to testify. Asked by a federal prosecutor what expectation he has of a more lenient sentence in return for his testimony, Wildstein said. “My role was to assist in that endeavor”, Wildstein said.

Mowers worked on Christie’s 2013 gubernatorial campaign and later for his unsuccessful presidential campaign.

Attorneys for Kelly and Baroni have portrayed Wildstein as a liar and trickster who duped their clients into thinking the lane closures were a legitimate traffic study.

“I saw much to do about nothing”, Critchley said. Sokolich, according to Mowers, said he feared retribution by the Democratic establishment if he were to endorse Christie.

Baroni’s attorney claimed he and his client have established that Wildstein has been a liar all his life.

“David Wildstein is a vicious guy”, Baroni’s attorney, Michael Baldassare, told jurors when the federal trial started September 19.

On the spreadsheet next to Sokolich’s name, Christie’s staffers listed a number of favors, including the purchase of shuttle buses for Fort Lee, which was paid for by the Port Authority. He has already pleaded guilty to federal crimes. Christie has denied prior knowledge of the plot and wasn’t charged.

Wildstein said that Baroni hired him as director of interstate capital projects but, in practice, his “job was to act as Mr. Baroni’s chief of staff”. Mowers testified about an elaborate effort he undertook with others to keep careful records of favors offered by Christie’s office and the political leaders and others who accepted or declined them.

Prosecutors say Baroni and Kelly conspired with Wildstein to cause traffic problems in Fort Lee, Bergen County, to punish the town’s Democratic mayor for his refusal to endorse the Republican governor’s reelection campaign. He now advises nominee Donald Trump.