UPDATE:
Wildstein Comes Clean: “Evidence exists” Christie Knew About Lane Closings ALL ALONG – Ángel Franco NYT –
“the Christie administration’s order….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…Mr. Wildstein contests the accuracy of various statements that the governor made about him, and he can prove the inaccuracy of some.”
— WILDSTEIN LETTER – Does not specify what the evidence was – the Port Authority REFUSES to pay Wildstein’s legal fees
Christie has steadfastly denied that he knew anything about the4 GWB Closure.
CHRISTIE = SPECTACULAR FALL FROM GRACE
“Politics would be a heIIuva good business if it weren’t for the GODDAMNED people.”
— President R M NlXON (R)
GOP GOVERNORS = One under federal indictment + one Federal investigated
CHRISTIE = Lied to Americans = HE HAS BINDERS FULL OF MAYORS AND THEIR DETAILS
Chris Christie = “the Top 100” = Swing towns = mini-Ohios or mini-Floridas = created tabbed dossiers on the mayors of each town = friends and enemies
BUT HE CLAIMS HE NEVER KNEW MAYOR OF FORT LEE!
A close look at his operation – a detail-obsessed governor had to be aware of the closings of GWB.
DARK NIGHTS = Spreadsheets, Documented calls/meetings in KEY towns = “political Moneyball” = Governor Pressures for endorsements and friends = Officially known as “intergovernmental affairs.” = Led by Bill Stepien and then Bridget Anne Kelly = “the crew” strategized at Christie’s kitchen table in Mendham
CHRISTIE’S office = FEW STEPS FROM Bill Stepien and then Bridget Anne Kelly = FIRED for THE EMAIL = “some traffic problems in Fort Lee.”
Christie’s most trusted staff members and re-election staff are under subpoena.
“With any governor, but especially with Chris Christie, it’s impossible to separate politics from policy, but clearly Stepien was politics first, policy second….There wasn’t anything of significance that Stepien did without the governor being aware of it.”
— David Pringle, Campaign Director for NJ Environmental Federation, who served on the transition team after the organization endorsed Mr. Christie in 2009 – CROSSED by CHRISTIE abandoning his principles on the environment.
Christie relied on trusted aides from his US attorney TIME: O’Dowd, Chiesa, McKenna, Michele Brown, Michael Drewniak.
Christie also relied on his political people: Giuliani, Robert D. Franks, Stepien, Ms. Kelly, Comella.
Everything was VETTED by CHRISTIE’s top lawyers = The two operations WERE INSEPARABLE = “It’s a campaign mentality.” “There was a sense that, ‘We have to totally manage the message because there might be a bigger stage for him.’”
Christie LAWYERS VETTED minor changes in bills or labor agreements, news releases from agencies and commissions = Commissioners told how to rule. Legislators told that they had to go through the governor’s office.
Christie tended to the smallest of details = he texted or cell phoned or met with legislators = Never emailed.
Christie’s aides managed the Legislature for his political goals. “We’re playing 3-D chess while they’re playing checkers.” = Adviser boasted Christie called a special separate election costing $MILLIONS to TAXPAYERS for US Senate Booker.
Christie TEAM briefed for 20 minutes every morning = ISSUES OF DAY.
Strategic meetings at Drumthwacket, his ceremonial house in nearby Princeton run by Stepien – an intimidating figure, occasionally raising his voice = Giuliani campaign = “Bill was the enforcer, both politically and legislatively.” = BILL plan for CHRISTIE to do 100 town-hall-style mini-Ohio & mini-Florida meetings over 4 years = “persuadable voters” using data on each town’s PROJECTS AND DONORS = shared with Christie = Binders FULL OF MAYORS! SOME WERE WOMEN = HOBOKEN! = Special attention ON state and PORT AUTHORITY aid TO BUY friends.
Stepien’s three PRONED EFFORT to reaching out to mayors = Matt Mowers sought endorsement of Mayor Sokolich of Fort Lee in the north TRACKED on the spreadsheets updated almost nightly noting phone calls made and meetings scheduled.
Mayors heard from CHRISTIE’s office about local public works projects pending.
One Republican described him as “probably the most trusted nonfederal prosecutor surrounding Christie.”
Stepien’s relationship to Mr. Christie = “Bill Stepien didn’t report to the chief of staff. He reported to the governor. There was no dotted line; there was a direct line.”
“If ‘Step’ bark(ed) an order…it was coming from the governor…There is no getting around that.”
— Republican consultant
Kelly = worked for Stepien before taking his Christie Job = won fans early among Democrats and Republicans.
KELLY = “We would often comment that she was a breath of fresh air because she took her job very seriously.” — Sheila Y. Oliver (D)
Kelly = Made sure legislators were invited and helped get to governor’s event in their district = Told dignitaries where to sit
Kelly = Work with towns on Hurricane Sandy relief money
Drewniak = CHRISTIE’S spokesman worked with Port Authority on response to the first reporters’ inquiries about lane closings – shut down Fort Lee
BLOCKING THE NEW TUNNEL = GAVE CHRISTIE A HUGE SLUSH FUND TO USE TO BUY SUPPORT!
TWO OPTIONS:
Christie 1st admitted he was massively ignorant, incompetent, and totally clueless
Christie now the micromanaging governor with a staff that needed permission to go to the toilet.
Christie aides ultimate mistake = Trail of writing and VOICE and PEOPLE’s DIARIES.
Christie texts, meets, and calls for a reason – COVERUP HIS TRACKS
CHRISTIE FIRING LIKE A ROMNEY = BETTER TAKE CARE OF THEM LIKE HE DID MICHELLE BROWN WITH A $225,OOO PER YEAR JOB = OR THEY WILL TALK!
FACT: Christie called and asked Governor Cuomo to back off on investigation of GWB SHUTDOWN EARLY AFTER CLOSURE = Could be considered obstruction of justice.
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