NJ state senator says some Dems tried to stop bridge investigation

New Jersey state Sen. Richard Codey (D) claims a group of Democratic lawmakers tried to stop an investigation into whether Gov. Chris Christie (R) was connected to the closing of lanes on the George Washington Bridge.

Codey said Monday that some Democrats waged “an intense campaign” to prevent the investigation from moving forward, The Star-Ledger reported. 

{mosads}”People know that there was an effort by certain Democratic circles to have this thing not see the light of day,” said Codey, who was New Jersey’s governor in the mid-2000s. Codey refused to name the Democrats who opposed the investigation, the Ledger reported. 

Incoming Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, however, said no one has tried to stop him in his inquiry.

“It was never asked or even somewhat insinuated,” Prieto said. “Zero.”

He also said he was unaware of an effort to stop an investigation.

Both state legislative bodies are now forming special committees to investigate the lane closures, which caused traffic snarls in Fort Lee, N.J.

Documents released over the last week linked Christie’s deputy chief of staff to the scandal. They appeared to show the lanes on the bridge were closed as an act of political retribution against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, a Democrat who did not endorse Christie.

Christie fired the chief of staff last week and apologized to his state for what had happened.

Separate emails released Monday suggest Christie’s administration also punished the mayor of Jersey City for not endorsing him for reelection.