Lawyer: Christie Ally Fired in Bridge-gate Will Testify for Immunity
Sunday, 19 Jan 2014 07:56 PM
But David Wildstein's testimony, which could "test the credibility of others," will come only if he gets state and federal immunity, says lawyer Alan Zegas.
Zegas didn't say whose credibility is at stake. But he told The Wall Street Journal his client has "a story to tell," and "would be happy to talk about all he knows."
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"Based upon my many years of experience as an attorney, he would be in a position to shed significant light upon what had occurred," Zegas told NorthJersey.com. "His information could be used to test the credibility of others."
Wildstein's information "will likely shed light on matters that others were not willing to talk about," Zegas said.
Wildstein's position at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey was created for him in 2010 when agency officials were told to find a job for him at the executive level, and after his hiring he was introduced as a good friend of the governor, CNN reports.
He was at that position on Aug. 13, 2013, when he received the now infamous email from Christie's Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly saying, "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee."
"Got it," Wildstein responded to Kelly.
After several other communications, all but one lane of the bridge going into New York City from Fort Lee, N.J., was closed on Sept. 9. The closures lasted for four days, backing up traffic into Fort Lee until higher authorities ordered them re-opened.
The New Jersey General Assembly is investigating the closures on allegations they were political payback against the Fort Lee mayor.
Wildstein invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination on Jan. 9 when called before the Assembly on the scandal, but supplied redacted messages to the committee investigating the scandal.
Wildstein appeared to be at the center of the effort to cover up the impact of the lane closures and hide the reasons behind them the Daily Mail reports.
The first emails and text messages published The Record of North Jersey on Jan. 8 included correspondence between Wildstein and Bill Baroni, another Port Authority official.
Baroni asks Wildstein for "Trenton feedback" after contentious testimony on Nov. 25 before the transportation committee.
"Good," Wildstein responded, appearing to refer to Christie's office.
"Just good? S***t," Baroni responded.
"No," Wildstein replies, "I have only texted Brudget [Bridget Kelly] and Nicole [wife of longtime Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak] they were VERY happy ... Both said you did great.'
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