What is ‘Bridgegate’? Things to know as the trial begins

Prosecutors say the two defendants on trial – Bill Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly, both close allies of Christie, a Republican – used the governor’s office and the Port Authority of NY and New Jersey, which runs the bridge, as arms of Christie’s re-election campaign, to reward mayors who endorsed him and punish those who did not.

Some of the questions are likely to be answered during the trial of two former Christie allies that begins Monday in federal court in Newark.

The Christie administration said it is seeking to clear statutory and contractual impediments that have hindered New Jersey’s maintenance of a “thorough and efficient system of free public schools”, as required under the state Constitution. He dismissed five counts including racketeering and consumer fraud.

His former aides, Kelly and Baroni, were charged with misusing Port Authority resources to create a traffic jam in Fort Lee, including issuing press releases to say that the lane closures were for a traffic study.

Defense attorneys are expected to characterize the government’s case as using legal sleight of hand to bend federal law to fit defendant Bill Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly’s actions.

“Better teaching methods, more instruction time and improved educational programs make the difference, and we can not in good conscience fail another generation of children living in the Garden State’s poorest school districts by denying them access to a proper education that is delivered by eager and capable teachers”, Christie said.

Christie, who failed in a 2016 presidential bid, has repeatedly denied any prior knowledge of the bridge scheme, and a taxpayer-funded report he commissioned absolved him of wrongdoing. Part of that has to do with Christie, an often polarizing figure whose presence looms over the trial, even though he wasn’t charged.

“I’ve been investigated by everybody for the last three years”, he said on MSNBC.

A Bridgegate over troubled water might have ruined Chris Christie’s chances at becoming Donald Trump’s running mate, the New Jersey governor said Thursday.