Republican 2016 Hopes Evaporate as David Wildstein Says Christie Knew About Bridgegate

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The house of cards is crashing down around Chris Christie and taking the Republicans best hope for 2016 with them, as David Wildstein is spilling the beans and admitting the governor knew about Bridgegate.

Kate Zernike at the New York Times reported:

In a letter released by his lawyer, the official, David Wildstein, a high school friend of Mr. Christie’s who was appointed with the governor’s blessing at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which controls the bridge, described the order to close the lanes as “the Christie administration’s order” and said “evidence exists as well tying Mr. Christie to having knowledge of the lane closures, during the period when the lanes were closed, contrary to what the governor stated publicly in a two-hour press conference” three weeks ago.

“Mr. Wildstein contests the accuracy of various statements that the governor made about him and he can prove the inaccuracy of some,” the letter added.

The letter marked the first signal that Mr. Christie may have been aware of the closings, something he repeatedly denied during the news conference.

This is the dynamite that Christie invited when he held a presser in which he denied all knowledge of bridgegate and threw his staffers under the Christie bus. As Jason Easley so accurately pointed out then, Christie’s remarks meant that reporters would keep digging and if he wasn’t telling the truth, it would be game over:

Reporters and media will likely keep digging. If/when they find evidence that Christie knew about this, the governor of New Jersey’s political future will be toast. Christie flatly stated that he had no knowledge of this issue. It’s planning, or its execution. The governor took a big risk, and if he is not being totally honest, he will be caught.

If it’s true that Chris Christie knew about bridgegate and Mr. Wildstein can prove it as he claims he can, then Christie not only abused his power but lied about it. And you know what they say about the coverup.

While Republicans spent years trying to turn Benghazi into something to harm Hillary Clinton in 2016, it looks like Chris Christie was busy destroying his own 2016 dreams. Americans might have forgiven the abuse of power, but they won’t forgive the lie, and they won’t forgive the way Christie tossed old friends under the bus to save himself.

Sarah Jones

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