Bridgegate: Bill Baroni, Bridget Kelly indicted on 9 counts

TanzaniaLaw · 2015-05-01T17:52:25+00:00

Two key figures in the Bridgegate scandal - Bill Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly - were indicted on nine counts of conspiracy, fraud and related charges, according to court documents unsealed Friday. Baroni, the former deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Kelly, a former deputy chief of staff of Gov. Chris Christie, allegedly conspired to close the local access lanes of the George Washington Bridge in 2013. The most serious charges in the indictment carry a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney's office said. David Wildstein, another former Port Authority executive, named Baroni and Kelly when he pleaded guilty Friday to his role in the politically-motivated closure of lanes to get back at the Fort Lee mayor. Wildstein said he wanted to "punish" Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich for not endorsing Christie in his re-election bid. "Public officials must use government resources for proper government purposes," U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said. "The indictment alleges, and Wildstein admitted, that the three defendants used Port Authority resources to exact political retribution against a public official who would not endorse the Governor for re-election, and concocted and promoted a bogus cover story to execute their plan and to cover their tracks." Baroni's attorney held a press conference this afternoon in Newark. The attorney, Michael Baldasarre, said Baroni did nothing wrong. "David Wildstein is a criminal and a liar," Baldasarre said. Later, Kelly appeared at a press conference at her attorney's office in Roseland. She also called Wildstein "a liar." "I will fight relentlessly to clear myself of these charges," Kelly said. Baroni and Kelly's charges include conspiracy against civil rights, deprivation of civil rights, wire fraud, conspiring to "intentionally misapply property of an organization receiving federal benefits" and related charges. The pair is scheduled to be arraigned Monday at 11 a.m. in Newark, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. According to the indictment, Kelly and Baroni conspired with Wildstein to claim the lane closures were part of a Port Authority traffic study. But no study existed. They also allegedly conspired to ignore the Fort Lee mayor's questions as he tried to get to the bottom of the sudden traffic problems in the borough. "To that end, the Conspirators purposely ignored communications from Mayor Sokolich, including his pleas for help, requests for information, and repeated warnings about the increased risks to public safety," the indictment said. Wildstein, Kelly and Baroni allegedly delayed the closure of the lanes until Sept. 9, 2013, to maximize the impact of the traffic problems. They knew waiting until the first day of school for children in Fort Lee "would intensify Mayor Sokolich's punishment," the indictment said. Source: www.nj.com

Thread starter TanzaniaLaw
Start date May 1, 2015

TanzaniaLaw

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Bridgegate: Bill Baroni, Bridget Kelly indicted on 9 counts

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