The Times ties Christie to GWB lane closures

Two of the three lanes to George Washington Bridge tollbooths, above, were closed in early September after an exchange of e-mails between members of Governor Christie's staff and his Port Authority appointee, leading to gridlock in Democratic Fort Lee and charges of political payback by the GOP bully.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
Editor

The New York Times Web site is reporting that Governor Christie knew about the George Washington Bridge lane closures "when they were happening" in early September.

The Times quotes David Wildstein, the high school pal Christie appointed to the Port Authority, which runs the bridge:

"The Port Authority official who personally oversaw the lane closings on the George Washington Bridge in the scandal now swirling around Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said on Friday that the governor knew about the lane closings when they were happening, and that he had the evidence to prove it.

"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, 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."

The Record's Web site published the story more than an hour after The Times report appeared today.