The trial for a former top aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) over the “Bridgegate” scandal has been delayed until November, when Christie may be in the midst of a presidential run.
A federal judge said Tuesday that the case against Bridget Kelly, Christie’s former chief of staff, and William Baroni, a former Port Authority executive, will not begin until Nov. 16. The pair both pleaded not guilty in an alleged conspiracy to close lanes on the George Washington Bridge as political retribution against a New Jersey mayor who refused to back Christie’s reelection.
{mosads}That timing could pose a distraction for Christie, who is currently weighing a presidential bid, as November comes in the middle of the Republican presidential debate schedule.
The lawyer for David Wildstein, a former Port Authority official who pled guilty to the plot, has argued that Christie knew about the closures. And Kelly’s lawyer hasn’t ruled out subpoenaing the governor to testify during the trial, which could be an embarrassing detour for a presidential candidate.
Christie has repeatedly asserted that he knew nothing about the alleged plot and said after the indictments that the evidence vindicated him.
“The U.S. attorney said in his press conference a few weeks ago that there will be no further charges,” he said Monday on Fox News’ “The Kelly File.”
“There’s been no connection to me because there is no connection to me. I had nothing to do with it, knew nothing about it, and nor will there be any evidence that ever comes to the contrary because it just didn’t happen.”