Trump hires ex-Christie aide fired for ‘Bridgegate’

Donald Trump’s presidential bid is adding a former top aide to Chris Christie (R) involved in the New Jersey governor’s “Bridgegate” scandal, according to a new report.

Bill Stepien was fired for his role in the September 2013 decision to close lanes on the crowded George Washington Bridge in an act of apparent political retribution, The New York Times said Friday.

{mosads}The Times said it had confirmed the hire with two anonymous sources close to Stepien and three near Trump’s campaign.

Stepien was hired Thursday, the newspaper said, and one source said his title is expected to be national field director.

The report said Christie is no longer close with Stepien and was reportedly uninvolved in his addition to Trump’s team.

Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, pushed for Stepien’s hiring during staff meetings and ultimately helped sway the billionaire, it added.

“He’s a real professional and has the kind of contacts and experience the campaign could really use,” said Roger Stone, an informal adviser to Trump.

The Times said Stepien, 38, successfully guided both of Christie’s campaigns for governor.

Stepien also served as a consultant to the Republican Governor’s Association (RGA), it said, and led the New Jersey Republican Party.

The Times said Stepien was widely expected to run Christie’s own GOP White House run before the Bridgegate fallout.

Court documents filed earlier this month allege Christie “flat out lied” about knowledge of his staff’s involvement in closing the traffic lanes.

Christina Renna, who worked under Christie’s deputy chief of staff, made the claim in a text message to Peter Sheridan, a Christie campaign aide in 2013.

Renna’s message was sent during a 2013 press conference in which Christie denied that his administration played a role the traffic jam.

“Are you listening? He just flat out lied about senior staff and [former deputy chief of staff] Stepien not being involved,” she wrote in the text on Dec. 13, 2013, according to a transcript.

“I’m listening,” Sheridan replied. “Gov. is doing fine. Holding his own up there.”

“Yes. But he lied,” Renna responded. “And if emails are found with the subpoena or [campaign] emails are uncovered in discovery if it comes to that it could be bad.”

The Times said prosecutors ultimately indicted Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie’s former deputy chief of staff, and two other individuals with ties to the governor.

The lawyers argued the lane closures in September 2013 were retaliation for Fort Lee, N.J., Mayor Mark Sokolich (D) refusing to endorse Christie’s reelection bid, it said.

Christie, who now leads Trump’s transition committee, has repeatedly denied any involvement in the lane closure.